Challenges in Designing a New Modulation Scheme for LTE

摘要

LTE, or Long Term Evolution, is the latest mobile broadband standard and represents the start of the fourth generation of cellular communication systems. The downlink for LTE uses OFDMA modulation, which is a well understood technology from development of existing systems like WiMAX. But the LTE uplink is a new modulation scheme called SC-FDMA (Single Carrier - Frequency Division Multiple Access). This has been chosen to provide high uplink data speeds while using less power from the terminal battery. It is based on OFDM, but has sufficient differences that mean there are new challenges in its implementation. Cambridge Consultants has invented a new uplink receiver equalizer for LTE called DUEL?; the process of its development is described here.