SC-FDMA with iterative multiuser detection: improvements on power/spectral efficiency

This article outlines the basic principles of single-carrier frequency division multiple access with iterative multiuser detection, called grouped frequency division multiple access. GFDMA allows multiple users to share a common set of subcarriers and separates the signals of users by employing distinct interleavers and frequency-domain multiuser detection. Some attractive features of GFDMA are explained, including low-cost iterative multiuser detection, multiuser and frequency diversity gains, and flexibility in resource allocation. We also discuss the applications of GFDMA to spatial diversity schemes and to intercell interference mitigation in the cell edge. It is shown that GFDMA offers advantages over SC-FDMA with respect to power/spectral efficiency. Such power/spectral efficiency can provide considerable performance improvements in future wireless communication networks.