OFDMA

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) not only provides clear advantages
for physical layer performance, but also a framework
for improving layer 2 performance by proposing an additional degree of free- dom. Using
ODFM, it is possible to exploit the time domain, the space domain, the frequency domain
and even the code domain
to optimize radio channel usage. It ensures very robust transmission in multi-path
environments with reduced receiver complexity.
OFDM also provides a frequency diversity gain, improving the physical layer performance .It
is also compatible with other enhancement
Technologies, such as smart antennas and MIMO.OFDM modulation can also be employed
as a multiple access technology (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access; OFDMA).
In this case, each OFDM symbol can transmit information to/from several users using a
different set
of sub carriers (sub channels). This not only provides additional flexibility for resource
allocation (increasing the capacity), but also enables cross-layer optimization of radio link usage

MULTIPLE-INPUT MULTIPLE –OUTPUT

MIMO uses signal multiplexing between multiple transmitting antennas (space multiplex)
and time or frequency. It is well suited to OFDM, as it is possible to process independent
time symbols as soon as the OFDM waveform is correctly designed for the channel. This
aspect of OFDM greatly simplifies processing. The signal transmitted by m antennas is
received by n antennas. Processing of the received signals may deliver several performance
improvements:range, quality of received signal and
spectrum efficiency. In principle, MIMO is more efficient when many multiple path signals
are received. The performance in cellular
deployments is still subject to research and simulations . However,
it is generally admitted that the gain in spectrum efficiency is directly related to the minimum
number of antennas in the link.
QUALITY OF SERVICE
_ Traffic generated by the different services will not only increase traffic loads on the
networks, but will also require different quality of service (QoS) requirements (e.g.,
cell loss rate, delay, and jitter) for different streams (e.g., video, voice, data).
_ Providing QoS guarantees in 4G networks is a non-trivial issue where both QoS
signaling across different networks and service differentiation between mobile flows
will have to be addressed.
_ One of the most difficult problems that are to be solved, when it comes to IP mobility,
is how to insure the constant QoS level during the handover.
_ Depending on whether the new access router is in the same or some other
subnetwork, we recognize the horizontal and vertical handover.
_ However, the mobile terminal can not receive IP packets while the process of
handover is finished. This time is called the handover latency.
_ Handover latency has a great influence on the flow of multimedia applications in realtime.
_ Mobile IPv6 have been proposed to reduce the handover latency and the number of
lost packets.
_ The field “Traffic Class” and “Flow Label” in IPv6 eader enables the routers to
secure the special QoS for specific packet series with marked priority
CONVERGENCE OF MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
AND BROADCASTING
From broadcaster point of view:
ıIntroducing interactivity to their unidirectional point-to multipoint Broadcasting systems.
That is, a broadband downlink based on DAB/DVB-T and a narrowband uplink based on
3G cellular systems.
From the cellular mobile operator point of view:
_Providing a complementary broadband downlink in vehicular environments to support IPbased
multi-media traffic which is inherently asymmetrical.

WHY 4G IS STILL NOT IMPLEMENTED?

>Nobody makes the conversion to 4G: All end up upgrading to 2.5G and 3G services.
The upgrades are incremental, and don’t require a complete reworking of the system,
so they are fairly cheap — the equipment required is already developed and in mass
production in other places in the world.
>Everyone makes the conversion to 4G The equipment and technology needed for 4G
will be cheap, because of all of the cellular manufacturers investing in it. Cellular
providers will market additional services to its customers.
>Some of the players make the conversion to 4G Because not all of the players have
chosen 4G, the equipment will be more expensive than the second scenario. Even
though converters will be able to sell more services to their customers, it will not be
enough to cover the higher costs of converting to 4G.
Therefore, if a player chooses the 4G strategy, but nobody else follows suit, that player
will be at a significant disadvantage.

DRAWBACKS
Unfortunately, to use 4G, all cellular hardware will need to be upgraded or replaced. Consumers
will be required to purchase new phones, and providers will need to install new equipment in
towers. Essentially, the communication system will need to be rebuilt from the ground up,
running off of data packets instead of voice information. The technological disadvantage is not
really a disadvantage, but more of an obstacle to overcome.
Although the concept of 4G communications shows much promise, there are still limitations that must
be addressed. A major concern is interoperability between the signaling techniques that are planned for
use in 4G (3XRTT and WCDMA).

Conclusion
As the history of mobile communications shows,attempts have been made to reduce a
number of technologies to a single global standard. Projected 4G systems offer this promise
of a standard that can be embraced worldwide through its key concept of integration.
There must be a low complexity of implementation and an
efficient means of negotiation between the end users and the wireless infrastructure.

Consumers demand that software and hardware be user-friendly and perform well. Indeed, it
seems part of our culture that customers expect the highest quality and the greatest features
from what they buy. The cellular telephone industry, which now includes a myriad of wireless
devices, is no exception.

This is a need that demands a solution. Today’s wired society is going wireless, and it
has a problem. 4G is the answer.