Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) is a multiple access scheme for OFDM systems. It works by assigning a subset of subcarriers to individual users.
OFDMA features
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OFDMA is the 'multi-user' version of OFDM
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Functions by partitioning the resources in the time-frequency space, by assigning units along the OFDM signal index and OFDM sub-carrier index
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Each OFDMA user transmits symbols using sub-carriers that remain orthogonal to those of other users
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More than one sub-carrier can be assigned to one user to support high rate applications
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Allows simultaneous transmission from several users ⇒ better spectral efficiency
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Multiuser interference is introduced if there is frequency synchronization error
The term 'OFDMA' is claimed to be a registered trademark by Runcom Technologies Ltd., with various other claimants to the underlying technologies through patents.
