Non-orthogonal multiple access: Common myths and critical questions

Vaezi M, Schober R, Ding Z, Vincent Poor H (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

IEEE Wireless Communications IEEE

Book Volume: 26

Pages Range: 174-180

Article Number: 8823873

Journal Issue: 5

DOI: 10.1109/MWC.2019.1800598

Abstract

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has received tremendous attention for the design of radio access techniques for fifth generation (5G) wireless networks and beyond. The basic concept behind NOMA is to serve more than one user in the same resource block, for example, a time slot, subcarrier, spreading code, or space. With this, NOMA promotes massive connectivity, lowers latency, improves user fairness and spectral efficiency, and increases reliability compared to orthogonal multiple access (OMA) techniques. While NOMA has gained significant attention from the communications community, it has also been subject to several widespread misunderstandings, such as "NOMA is based on allocating higher power to users with worse channel conditions. As such, cell-edge users receive more power in NOMA and due to this biased power allocation toward celledge users inter-cell interference is more severe in NOMA compared to OMA. NOMA also compromises security for spectral efficiency." The above statements are actually false, and this article aims at identifying such common myths about NOMA and clarifying why they are not true. We also pose critical questions that are important for the effective adoption of NOMA in 5G and beyond and identify promising research directions for NOMA, which will require intense investigation in the future.

Authors with CRIS profile

Robert Schober Lehrstuhl für Digitale Übertragung

Involved external institutions

University of Manchester GB United Kingdom (GB) Princeton University US United States (USA) (US) Villanova University US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Vaezi, M., Schober, R., Ding, Z., & Vincent Poor, H. (2019). Non-orthogonal multiple access: Common myths and critical questions. IEEE Wireless Communications, 26(5), 174-180. https://doi.org/10.1109/MWC.2019.1800598

MLA:

Vaezi, Mojtaba, et al. "Non-orthogonal multiple access: Common myths and critical questions." IEEE Wireless Communications 26.5 (2019): 174-180.

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