MAI and ICI of Asynchronous Uplink MC-CDMA With Frequency Offset

In this paper, we analyze the performance of random spreading code-division multiple-access (CDMA) systems with a multicarrier in asynchronous uplink channels. We first derive the probability density function (pdf) of the multiple-access interference (MAI) plus noise and then extend the results to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with intercarrier interference (ICI) that is caused by a frequency offset. We obtain the pdf of the MAI and the ICI plus noise under Rayleigh and frequency-selective fading as a function of the number of users and the spreading factor, as well as the number of subcarriers and the frequency offset. The bit-error-rate (BER) analysis shows that the power penalty from the frequency offset increases with the system loading. We develop the Gaussian approximation that provides an accurate estimation of the BER with reduced computational complexity comparing to the direct calculations using the pdf.