Application of Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access in LTE and 5G Networks

As the latest member of the multiple access family, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has been recently proposed for 3GPP LTE and is envisioned to be an essential component of 5G mobile networks. The key feature of NOMA is to serve multiple users at the same time/frequency/ code, but with different power levels, which yields a significant spectral efficiency gain over conventional orthogonal MA. The article provides a systematic treatment of this newly emerging technology, from its combination with MIMO technologies to cooperative NOMA, as well as the interplay between NOMA and cognitive radio. This article also reviews the state of the art in the standardization activities concerning the implementation of NOMA in LTE and 5G networks.