Nonorthogonal multiple access for next-generation mobile networks: A technical aspect for research direction

Abstract

5G mobile communications offer several benefits, which include providing extremely low latency, very high data rates, significant improvement in the number of users, and increase in base station capacity and perceived quality of service. This may be achieved at the cost of an increased receiver complexity by nonorthogonal access of users. Nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is one of the capable contenders to achieve the vision of 5G wireless communications. Supporting a higher number of users than available orthogonal resources is the key feather of NOMA. In this article, the basic principle of NOMA has been reviewed and compared with other orthogonal multiple access (OMA). A comprehensive survey is presented in the latest NOMA scheme. The distinguished NOMA schemes design principle features, and recent deployments are discussed. Furthermore, the performance is compared in terms of the bit error rate, system capacity, and energy efficiency. The performance results show that NOMA can achieve the required goals, in terms of the user data rate, system capacity, interference cancellation scheme, and reception complexity.