JOURNAL OF COMPUTING, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 9, SEPTEMBER 2010, ISSN 2151-9617

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Spectral Efficiency and BER Performance

Analysis of an IEEE 802.16 Standard WiMAX
Physical Layer using Adaptive Modulation
and Coding under AWGN and Fading
Channels
First A. Md. Anamul Islam and Second B. Md. Mobarak Hossain

Abstract— IEEE 802.16 is the standard defining the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) for Metropolitan Area
Network (MAN). WiMAX has recently being considered by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) as an attractive alternative to leasing lines from
current ISPs or the deployment of new fiber networks. This is mainly the case since WiMAX is more flexible and much cheaper than other
possible solutions. This paper incorporates the model building of the WiMAX Physical layer using MATLAB simulation. This model is a useful
tool for BER and spectral efficiency analysis through the WiMAX Physical layer using Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) under AWGN
and frequency flat fading (Rayleigh and Rician) channels at 100Hz Doppler frequency. To analysis the performances, synthetically generated
data is communicated through the proposed system with 256 OFDM symbols using 16 and 64-QAM digital modulation schemes besides 1/2,
2/3 and 3/4 -rated FEC technique concatenated with Cyclic Redundancy Check and Convolution Coding (CRC-CC). Computer simulation
results of BER and spectral efficiency demonstrate that the system’s performance is highly dependent on channel conditions and can be
optimized by AMC technique. With the implementation of AMC technique 64QAM with ¾ rated coding display lower BER under AWGN and
Ricain channels whilst 16QAM (CRC-CC-2/3) indicates lower BER over Rayleigh channel condition. Moreover, 16QAM with 2/3 rated coding
combats very effective spectrum efficiency under all mobile environments.
.

Index Terms— Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave access (WiMAX), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), Adaptive
Modulation and Coding (AMC), Bit Error Rate (BER), Energy per bit to Noise density (Eb/No), Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN).

——————————  ——————————

1 INTRODUCTION

W iMAX  [2,  3]  is  a  new  wireless  technology  that 

provides  high  throughput  broadband  connection 
over  long  distances  based  on  IEEE.802.16  wireless 
bandwidth,  WiMAX  defines  a  selectable  channel 
bandwidth from 1.25MHz to 20MHz. In WiMAX systems, 
there  are  many  researches  that  had  been  made  for 
MAN  air  interface  standard.  It  is  designed  to  different  stages  such  as  coding  stage  [4].  This 
accommodate  both  fixed  and  mobile  broadband  investigation  is  focused  on  studying  the  performance  of 
application.  It  can  be  used  for  many  applications,  WiMAX physical layer using convolutional product code 
including  “last  mile”  broadband  connections,  cellular  (CRC‐CC) and Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC). 
backhaul,  and  high‐speed  enterprise  connectivity  for  The  key  development  in  the  PHY  layer  includes 
business,  due  to  its  high  spectrum  efficiency  and  Orthogonal Frequency‐Division Multiplexing (OFDM), in 
robustness  in  multi  path  propagation.  Comparing  which  multiple  accesses  are  achieved  by  assigning  a 
WiMAX  to  Wi‐Fi  and  3G,  the  WiMAX  has  an  improved  subset  of  sub  carriers  to  each  individual  user.  In  an 
important  characteristic,  the  throughput  capabilities  of  OFDM  system,  the  data  is  divided  into  multiple  parallel 
WIMAX  depends  on  the  channel  bandwidth  used  [2].  sub streams at a reduced data rate, and each is modulated 
Unlike  the  3G  systems  which  have  fixed  channel  and transmitted on a separate orthogonal subcarrier. This 
increases  symbol  duration  and  improves  system 
———————————————— robustness. OFDM is achieved by providing multiplexing 
 F.A. Md. Anamul Islam is a lecturer, Dept. of Computer Science and on  users’  data  streams  on  both  uplink  and  downlink 
Engineering, Asian University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh. transmissions [1]. 
In  WiMAX  systems,  the  AMC  method  is  used  to  take 
 S.B. Md. Mobarak Hossain is an Assistant Professor, Dept. of Computer advantages  of  fluctuations  in  channel  conditions.  The 
Science and Engineering, Asian University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, basic idea is very simple: Transmit as high a data rate as 
Bangladesh.
possible  when  the  channel  is  in  good  condition,  and 
transmit at a lower rate when the channel is poor. As per 
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this  present  study  it  is  observed  that  lower  data  rate  is  four  PHY  layers,  any  of  which  can  be  used  with  the 
accomplished  by  introducing  lower  constellation,  for  media  access  control  (MAC)  layer  to  develop  a 
example  16QAM,  and  low  rate  FEC  codes  CRC‐CC  ‐1/2,  broadband  wireless  system.  The  PHY  layers  defined  in 
whereas  higher  data  rate  is  achieved  with  overcrowding 
IEEE 802.16 are 
constellations  such  as  64QAM,  and  less  robust  error 
•  WirelessMAN  SC,  a  single‐carrier  PHY  layer  intended 
correction codes like CRC‐CC‐3/4 [2].  
for frequencies beyond 11GHz requiring a LOS condition. 
The  goal  of  this  work  is  to  implement  and  simulate  the  This PHY layer is part of the original 802.16 specifications. 
OFDM  Physical  layer  condition  of  IEEE  802.16  standard.  •  WirelessMAN  SCa,  a  single‐carrier  PHY  for  frequencies 
Using  Adaptive  Modulation  and  Coding  (AMC) 
between  2GHz  and  11GHz  for  point‐to‐multipoint 
technique, the performances of WiMAX physical layer are 
operations. 
analyzed based on the simulation results of Bit‐Error‐Rate 
(BER)  and  Spectral  Efficiency  in  accordance  with  Energy  •  WirelessMAN  OFDM,  a  256‐point  FFT‐based  OFDM 
per  bit  to  Noise  density  (Eb/No).  The  performance  PHY layer for point‐to‐multipoint operations in non‐LOS 
analysis  of  OFDM‐PHY  is  carried  out  in  MATLAB  7.5  conditions at frequencies between 2GHz and 11GHz. This 
under different channel models.   PHY  layer,  finalized  in  the  IEEE  802.16‐2004 
This  paper  is  structured  as  follows:  in  Section  2,  specifications,  has  been  accepted  by  WiMAX  for  fixed 
description of physical layer of the WIMAX is introduced.  operations and is often referred to as fixed WiMAX. 
Detailed  description  of  simulation  model  of  WiMAX  •  WirelessMAN  OFDMA,  a  2,048‐point  FFT‐based 
physical  layer  is  presented  in  Section  3  followed  by 
OFDMA PHY for point‐to‐multipoint operations in NLOS 
Adaptive  Modulation  and  Coding  as  well  as  proposed 
physical  layer  model  in  subsequent  subsections.  conditions  at  frequencies  between  2GHz  and  11GHz.  In 
Simulation results and discussion are put in section 4 and  the  IEEE  802.16e‐2005  specifications,  this  PHY  layer  has 
finally conclusions are reflected in Section 5.  been modified to SOFDMA (scalable OFDMA), where the 
FFT size is variable and can take any one of the following 
values:  128,  512,  1,024,  and  2,048.  The  variable  FFT  size 
2 PHYSICAL LAYER OF WIMAX
allows  for  optimum  operation/implementation  of  the 
system  over  a  wide  range  of  channel  bandwidths  and 
The  WiMAX  physical  layer  is  based  on  orthogonal 
radio  conditions.  This  PHY  layer  has  been  accepted  by 
frequency  division  multiplexing.  OFDM  is  the 
WiMAX  for  mobile  and  portable  operations  and  is  also 
transmission scheme of choice to enable high‐speed data, 
referred to as mobile WiMAX [2].   
video, and multimedia communications and is used by a 
variety of commercial broadband systems, including DSL, 
Wi‐Fi,  Digital  Video  Broadcast‐Handheld  (DVB‐H),  and  3 SIMULATION MODEL OF WIMAX-PHY LAYER
MediaFLO,  besides  WiMAX.  OFDM  is  an  elegant  and  3.1 Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC)
efficient scheme for high data rate transmission in a non‐
WiMAX systems use AMC technique in order to take
line‐of‐sight or multipath radio environment. 
advantages of fluctuations in the channel. A block
 
diagram of AMC system is given in figure-1. For
The physical (PHY) layer of WiMAX is based on the IEEE  simplicity,first considering a single user system
802.16‐2004  and  IEEE  802.16e‐2005  standards  and  was  attempting to transmit as quickly as possible through a
designed  with  much  influence  from  Wi‐Fi,  especially  channel with variable SINR for example, due to fading.
IEEE  802.11a.  Although  many  aspects  of  the  two  The goal of the transmitter is to transmit data from its
technologies are different due to the inherent difference in  queue as rapidly as possible subject to the data being
their  purpose  and  applications,  some  of  their  basic  demodulated and decoded reliably at the receiver.
constructs  are  very  similar.  Like  Wi‐Fi,  WiMAX  is  based  Feedback is critical for AMC technique: The transmitter is
on  the  principles  of  orthogonal  frequency  division  need to know the “channel SINR” γ, which is defined as
multiplexing (OFDM) as previously introduced  in above  the received SINR γr divided by the transmit power Pt
which itself usually a function of γ. The received SINR is
which is a suitable modulation/access technique for non–
thus γr= Pt γ. This technique allows lowest offered data
line‐of‐sight  (LOS)  conditions  with  high  data  rates.  In 
rate using 16QAM- CRC-CC-1/2 code and the highest
WiMAX,  however,  the  various  parameters  pertaining  to 
data rate burst profile with 64QAM-CRC-CC-3/4 code. A
the  physical  layer,  such  as  number  of  subcarriers,  pilots,  key challenge in AMC technique is to efficiently control
guard  band  and  so  on,  are  quite  different  from  Wi‐Fi,  three quantities at once: transmit power, modulation
since  the  two  technologies  are  expected  to  function  in  order and the coding rate. This corresponds to developing
very different environments.  an appropriate policy for the AMC controller as shown in
  Figure-1[2].
The  IEEE  802.16  suite  of  standards  (IEEE  802.16‐
2004/IEEE  802‐16e‐2005)  [5,  6]  defines  within  its  scope 
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Inverse  Discrete  Fourier  Transform  (IDFT)  on  a  block  of 

information  symbols      followed  by  an  analog‐to‐digital 
Bits out converter  (ADC).  To  mitigate  the  effects  of  inter‐symbol 
interference  (ISI)  caused  by  channel  time  spread,  each 
block of IDFT coefficients is typically preceded by a cyclic 
Decoder prefix  [7,  8].    At  the  receiver  side,  the  received  signal  is 
multicarrier  demodulated,  de‐mapped,  convolutionally 
Receiver

Channel decoded,  de‐interleaved  and  finally  CRC  decoded  in 

Symbol Estimation order to recover the transmitted data. 
Demapper

Synthetic Retrieved data bits

data bits
Channel

CRC CRC
Encoder Decoder

Power
Control Convolution Convolution
Encoder Decoder
AMC
Transmitter

Symbol Controller
Mapper Interleaver Deinterleaver

FEC
Encoder Digital Digital
Modulation Demodulation

S/P Converter
Bits in P/S Converter

Multicarrier
Fig.1. Block diagram of Adaptive Modulation and Coding Multicarrier
Modulator (IFFT)
Demodulator (FFT)

3.2 WiMAX Physical Layer Model Cyclic Prefix

Cyclic Prefix
The  Model  itself  consists  of  three  main  components  Insertion
Removal
namely  transmitter,  receiver  and  channel.  Transmitter 
and  receiver  components  consist  of  channel  coding  and  P/S Converter
S/P Converter
modulation  sub‐components  whereas  channels  are 
modeled as AWGN and frequency flat fading channels at 
100Hz Doppler shift. Figure 2 shows the basic simulation    Channel
model  of  WiMAX‐PHY  Layer.  The  synthetically 
generated  data  is  encoded  first  through  Cyclic 
  
Redundancy  Check  (CRC)  encoder.  The  CRC  coded 
Fig.2.  Functional  stages  of  WiMAX‐PHY  layer  for  synthetic 
binary  data  stream      is  ensured  against  transmission 
data communication. 
errors with Convolution Codes (CC) and interleaved. The 
encoded  bits  from  the  output  of    ½,  2/3  or  3/4‐rated 
Convolutional encoder are interleaved prior to  converted  4 RESULTS OF SIMULATION STUDY
into each of the either complex modulation symbols in 16  Figure 3 through 8 show the spectral efficiency and BER
or 64‐QAM modulation schemes and fed to a multicarrier  performances of binary data communication through
modulator  for    transmission.    In  the  modulator,  the  WiMAX-PHY layer using Adaptive Modulation and
digitally modulated information symbols are transmitted  Coding (AMC) technique with two types of digital
modulation schemes-16 and 64-QAM via ½, 2/3 and ¾-
in  parallel  on  sub‐carriers  through  implementation  as  an 
rated FEC codes concatenated with convolution and
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cyclic redundancy check (CRC-CC) over both AWGN and
frequency flat fading channels. In all the cases for BER,
the proposed system provides degraded performance in
64 QAM-CRC-CC (2/3) and satisfactory performance in
64QAM-CRC-CC (3/4) whereas for spectral efficiency, 64
QAM-CRC-CC (2/3) draws poor performance and
16QAM-CRC-CC (3/4) is phenomenal among the
schemes. In Figure 3, the BER performances of binary
data conduction through WiMAX-PHY using the planned
formats in AWGN channel. For a typical EbNo value of
14 dB, the BER values for 64QAM-CRC-CC (3/4) and 64
QAM-CRC-CC (2/3) methods are 0 and 0.06895
respectively. Similarly, in Figure 4, the system
performance by spectral response is lead to almost above
7 bits/Sec/Hertz by 16QAM-CRC-CC (3/4) at a typical
EbNo value of 14 dB. It is mentionable here that the BER
and spectral efficiency for used schemes approaches Fig.4. Spectral efficiency of WiMAX-PHY layer using AMC
different on various EbNo values and performances by technique for 16 and 64QAM modulation schemes with ½,
both terms can be improved using proposed technique. 2/3 and ¾-rated CRC–CC encoded systemns over an AWGN
Again from figure 5 and 6, for a typically considered channel.
EbNo value (14dB), it is clearly seen that the BER
performances, for 16QAMCRC-CC-(2/3) and
64QAMCRC-CC (2/3) schemes under frequency-flat
Rayleigh fading channel at 100Hz Doppler shift, are
0.00086 and 0.06895 respectively, viz. the improvement is
43.84dB but in terms of spectral efficiency 16QAM-CRC-
CC (3/4) and 16QAMCRC-CC-(2/3) produce about 3.5
bits/Sec/Hz and 1bit/Sec/Hz, correspondingly (Figure-
5) in the same condition. Moreover, in the figures (7 and
8) the BER performance is improved by 77.4 dB and their
corresponding values are 0.0000264 for 16QAMCRC-CC
(3/4) and 0.0608 for 64QAMCRC-CC (2/3) but the
spectral efficiency is almost 7 bits/Sec/Hz using
16QAMCRC-CC (3/4). These results are taken under
frequency flat Rician channel at 100Hz of Doppler shift
with 14dB of EbNo. So it is clearly found from the figures
that the system performances by both BER and spectral Fig.5. BER simulations of WiMAX-PHY layer using AMC
response combat with channel conditions and can be technique for 16 and 64QAM modulation schemes with ½,
optimized using AMC technique. 2/3 and ¾-rated CRC–CC encoded systems over a
frequency-flat Rayleigh channel at 100Hz Doppler frequency.

Fig.3. BER simulations of WiMAX-PHY layer using AMC Fig.6. Spectral efficiency of WiMAX-PHY layer using AMC
technique for 16 and 64QAM modulation schemes with ½, technique for 16 and 64QAM modulation schemes with ½,
2/3 and ¾-rated CRC–CC encoded systems over an AWGN 2/3 and ¾-rated CRC–CC encoded systems over a
channel. frequency-flat Rayleigh channel at 100Hz Doppler frequency.
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Fig.7. BER simulations of WiMAX-PHY layer using AMC
technique for 16 and 64QAM modulation schemes with ½,
2/3 and ¾-rated CRC–CC encoded systems over a
frequency-flat Rician channel at 100Hz Doppler frequency.
Fig.8. Spectral efficiency of WiMAX-PHY layer using AMC
technique for 16 and 64QAM modulation schemes with ½,
2/3 and ¾-rated CRC–CC encoded systems over a
frequency-flat Rician channel at 100Hz Doppler frequency.
5 CONCLUSION
The BER performance and spectral efficiency of the
synthetically generated data communication through
broadband WiMAX-PHY layer based wireless
communication system adopting the AMC technique of
16 and 64QAM digital modulation schemes with ½,
2/3and ¾-rated FEC coding concatenated with
Convolution and Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC-CC). A
range of system performances highlight the impact of
digital modulations and different rated coding under
AWGN and fading channels. In the context of system
BER performance, it can be concluded that the
implementation of AMC technique with 3/4 rated CRC-
CC channel coding technique and 64-QAM digital
modulation provides satisfactory result among the
131
schemes. On the other hand with the same situation 16-
QAM puts maximum spectral response with limited
EbNo. So, finally, it can be pointed out that AMC
technique combats with channel condition and optimizes
system’s performances.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to thank Mr. M. Rezaul Islam,
Professor, Department of Applied Physics and Electronic
Engineering, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. This
work was carried out by the guidance of Mr. Shaikh
Enayet Ullah, Professor, Department of Information and
Communication Engineering, University of Rajshahi,
Bangladesh.
REFERENCES
[1]  A.  Ghosh  et  al.,  “Broadband  Wireless  Access  with 
WiMAX/802.16:  Current  Performance  Benchmarks  and  Future 
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[2.]  Andrews,  J.,  A.  Ghosh,  and  R.  Muhamed,  Fundamentals  of 
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in WIMAX system,” Vehicular Technology Conference, 2007. 
[5].  IEEE.  Standard  802.16‐2004,  Part  16,  “Air  interface  for  fixed 
broadband wireless access system”, June 2004. 
[6]. IEEE. Standard 802.16‐2004, Part 16,: “Air interface for fixed and 
mobile broadband wireless access system”, December 2005. 
[7].    L.  J.  Cimini,  Jr.  “Analysis  and  simulation  of  a  digital  mobile 
channel  using  orthogonal  frequency  division  multiplexing”,  IEEE 
Trans. Commun., vol. COM‐33, pp. 665–675, 1985. 
[8].  T.  Kratochvil,  “Utilization  of  Matlab  for  digital  Image 
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First A. Md. Anamul Islam received M.Sc. (2009) and B.Sc. (2008)
degrees in Applied Physics and Electronic Engineering from the
University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh. He is currently
conducting job as a Lecturer, Dept. of Computer Science and
Engineering, Asian University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
th
He achieved 4 position in Master level and awarded scholarship
from the university fund. His research interests are in Wireless
Communication, Biosignal Processing and Biomedical
Instrumentation.
Second B. Md. Mobarak Hossain is now a PhD Fellow. He secured
MS (2000) and B.Sc (1998) degrees in Computer Engineering from
Vinnitsya State Technical University, Ukraine. He is an assistant
professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering,
Asian University of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He has seven
different publications on both national and international journals. His
main interest is in computer system and Networks.