NOMA, or Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access, is a key technology in 5G networks that enables multiple users to share the same time-frequency resource. In traditional multiple access schemes, such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), different users are assigned orthogonal resources to avoid interference. However, NOMA takes a different approach by allowing users to share the same resource non-orthogonally.
In NOMA, multiple users are served simultaneously on the same time-frequency resource, differentiating them through power domain or code domain multiplexing. This non-orthogonal approach enhances spectral efficiency and increases the system’s capacity to support a larger number of connected devices.
One of the primary advantages of NOMA is its ability to cater to users with distinct channel conditions and quality of service requirements within the same resource block. Users with better channel conditions receive higher power allocations, while those with poorer conditions get lower power allocations. This ensures that all users can be served efficiently, even in challenging wireless environments.
NOMA plays a crucial role in supporting diverse applications and use cases in 5G, including massive machine-type communication (mMTC), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), and ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC). By efficiently managing the resources and accommodating multiple users on the same channel, NOMA contributes to the overall performance improvement of 5G networks.