Frequency domain pilot-based carrier frequency offset estimation in SC-FDMA system

Carrier frequency offset estimation in Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) system is a challenging task. In this paper, a novel estimation method based on the pilot signal in frequency domain is proposed. This algorithm does not require the knowledge of the channel, and only one pilot symbol is needed for frequency offset estimation. These promising features will facilitate its deployment in the current systems without changing the air-interface. A performance evaluation is conducted over Demodulation Reference Signal in Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access uplink SC-FDMA system. In frequency selective channels, it has the least estimation error among three benchmark methods in large CFO scenarios.