Orthogonal Time Frequency Multiplexing (OTFDM): A Novel Waveform Targeted for IMT-2030

The rapid evolution of the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) landscape has prompted the International Telecommunications Union Working Party 5D (ITU WP5D) to outline the framework for IMT-2030 and beyond. This next-generation initiative seeks to meet the diverse demands of future networks, with key objectives including hyper-low latency, enhanced energy efficiency, and robust support for high mobility. Current 5th generation (5G) technologies employ waveforms like Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and Discrete Fourier Transform Spread Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (DFT-s-OFDM). However, these waveforms are insufficient to fully meet the stringent requirements of next-generation communication systems. This paper introduces a novel waveform, Orthogonal Time Frequency Division Multiplexing (OTFDM), designed to address the limitations of existing waveforms. OTFDM achieves ultra-low latency by enabling single-shot transmission of data and Reference Signals (RS) within a single symbol. Furthermore, OTFDM supports high mobility with improved resilience to Doppler shifts and enhances power amplifier efficiency through its low Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) characteristics. The proposed waveform incorporates advanced signal processing techniques, including time-frequency multiplexing and frequency domain spectrum shaping, to mitigate inter-symbol interference (ISI). These techniques enable accurate per-symbol channel estimation, thus supporting higher-order modulations even at higher user speeds. Extensive simulations validate the efficacy of OTFDM, demonstrating its capability to support user speeds up to 500 Km/h with minimal RS overhead. This paper explores the technical aspects of OTFDM and discusses its potential implications for the next-generation wireless communication systems.

Meeting IMT 2030 Performance Targets: The Potential of OTFDM Waveform and Structural MIMO Technologies

The white paper focuses on several candidate technologies that could play a crucial role in the development of 6G systems. Two of the key technologies explored in detail are Orthogonal Time Frequency Division Multiplexing (OTFDM) waveform and Structural MIMO (S-MIMO).

System-Level Modelling and Beamforming Design for RIS-assisted Cellular Systems

Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) is considered as key technology for improving the coverage and network capacity of the next-generation cellular systems. By changing the phase shifters at RIS, the effective channel between the base station and user can be reconfigured to enhance the network capacity and coverage. However, the selection of phase shifters at RIS has a significant impact on the achievable gains. In this letter, we propose a beamforming design for the RIS-assisted cellular systems. We then present in detail the system-level modelling and formulate a 3-dimension channel model between the base station, RIS, and user, to carry out system-level evaluations. We evaluate the proposed beamforming design in the presence of ideal and discrete phase shifters at RIS and show that the proposed design achieves significant improvements as compared to the state-of-the-art algorithms.