Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA): How It Meets 5G and Beyond

Abstract

Due to massive connectivity and increasing demands of various services and data-hungry applications, a full-scale implementation of the fifth generation (5G) wireless systems requires more effective radio access techniques. In this regard, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has recently gained ever-growing attention from both academia and industry. Compared to orthogonal multiple access (OMA) techniques, NOMA is superior in terms of spectral efficiency and is thus appropriate for 5G and Beyond. In this article, we provide an overview of NOMA principles and applications. Specifically, the article discusses the fundamentals of power-domain NOMA with single and multiple antennas in both uplink and downlink settings. In addition, the basic principles of code-domain NOMA are elaborated. Further, the article explains various resource allocation techniques such as user pairing and power allocation for NOMA systems; discusses the basic form of cooperative NOMA and its variants; and addresses several opportunities and challenges associated with the compatibility of NOMA with other advanced communication paradigms such as heterogeneous networks and millimeter wave communications.