System Spectral Efficiency and Stability of 3G Networks: A Comparative Study

CDMA2000, WCDMA and WiMAX are three widely used 3G technologies. Since they share the same goal, which is to provide broader coverage and higher throughput in 3G networks, an impartial comparison of their performance is indispensable. However, they are based on different design principles and methodologies, which make the comparison challenging. This paper presents a comparative study of these technologies, with focus on system spectral efficiency and stability in 3G networks. Specifically, the paper presents a framework for the comparison based on the common set of configurations adopted by these technologies, which include channel models, system parameters and key algorithms. Through extensive simulations, the system spectral efficiency and stability of CDMA2000 1x EVDO Rev.A, WCDMA HSDPA/HSUPA and Mobile WiMAX are compared. It is found that while WiMAX can provide highest throughput, the two CDMA-based technologies achieve higher system spectral efficiency, especially on the downlin...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2009
• Where: ICC
• Authors: Yuehong Gao, Xin Zhang, Yuming Jiang, Jeong-woo Cho
• Keywords: Communications, ICC 2009, Spectral Efficiency, Technologies, WiMAX