On channel equalization in filter bank based multicarrier wireless access systems

We consider filter bank based multicarrier systems in broadband wireless access network applications. Such systems provide better spectral shaping than DFT based OFDM systems for the subchannels, as well as for the overall signal. In the wireless communications applications, the main advantage of such systems is potentially better efficiency because the time-domain guard interval is not needed and the guard-band in the frequency domain can be reduced. However, the channel equalization for such systems is still an open problem. In this paper it is demonstrated that such systems are very sensitive to the nonlinear phase response of the channel. Alternative ways to perform the channel equalization are discussed. An equalization approach is presented based on individual symbol timing and carrier phase recovery for each subcarrier. This approach can be used to evaluate the potential performance benefits of filter bank based multicarrier systems in broadband wireless access