Generalized frequency division multiplexing: A flexible multi-carrier waveform for 5G

Abstract

The next generation of wireless networks will face different challenges from new scenarios. The conventional Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) has shown difficulty in fulfilling all demanding requirements. This chapter presents Generalized Frequency Division Multiplexing (GFDM) as a strong waveform candidate for future wireless communications systems which can be combined with several techniques such as precoding or Offset Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (OQAM) and which offers the flexibility to emulate a variety of other popular waveforms as corner cases. This property suggests GFDM as a key technology to allow reconfiguration of the physical layer (PHY), enabling a fast and dynamic evolution of the infrastructure. Additionally, multicarrier transmission theory is covered in terms of Gabor theory. Details on synchronization, channel estimation algorithms and MIMO techniques for GFDM are presented and a description of a proof-of-concept demonstrator shows the suitability of GFDM for future wireless networks.