What Is OFDMA?
OFDMA (orthogonal frequency-division multiple access), a technology in Wi-Fi 6, improves wireless network performance by establishing independently modulating subcarriers within frequencies. This approach allows simultaneous transmissions to and from multiple clients.
Contact Cisco
-
-
Call Sales:
- 1-800-553-6387
- US/CAN | 5am-5pm PT
What's the difference between OFDM and OFDMA?
OFDM (orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing) is an older, related technology for increasing wireless capacity and efficiency. OFDM has been used in areas such as cellular networking and broadcast media and in previous versions of Wi-Fi.
OFDMA is essentially a type of OFDM for multiple users. It allocates in both the time domain and the frequency domain, allowing for multiple users—even those with widely varying use patterns or data loads. By comparison, OFDM can allocate only sequentially.
What problems does OFDMA solve?
Previous Wi-Fi standards were intended for web browsing and email in low-density situations. Today's users aren't just greater in number; they're performing more data-intensive functions in more settings than ever before.
Network congestion caused by simultaneous requests causes slowdowns, since clients must form a queue to complete transmissions. OFDMA solves the congestion problem by accommodating multiple users at the same time and allocating bandwidth more efficiently.
How does OFDMA work?
One way to understand OFDMA is to use delivery trucks as an analogy.
With Wi-Fi 5, each "truck" could carry only a single user's cargo. But with Wi-Fi 6 and OFDMA, the truck can be loaded with multiple users' cargo loads. Also, its drop-off schedule can be optimized for speed and efficiency.
OFDMA divides a Wi-Fi channel into smaller frequency allocations, called resource units (RUs). An access point can communicate with multiple clients by assigning them to specific RUs.
Wi-Fi 5 divides channels into 64 312.5-kHz subcarriers, all of which are used to transmit data to a single client. By spacing these carriers orthogonally, OFDMA allows Wi-Fi 6 to divide channels into smaller units without interference.
The number of RUs assigned to each client is determined by factors such as device constraints, quality-of-service (QoS) requirements, and packet size. The flexibility in scheduling along with the parallel nature of OFDMA increases the productive Air Time efficiency.
Is OFDMA used in 5G or other cellular networks?
Yes. OFDMA is used in the air interface stage of 5G New Radio (5G NR), which allows for mobile connectivity. OFDM, the older technology, is one of the primary enabling technologies of 3G and 4G cellular service.
Where is OFDMA used?
OFDMA technology can be applied anywhere data is sent along radio waves, including the:
- Mobility mode of the IEEE 802.16 wireless standard known as WiMAX
- Wireless LAN (WLAN) standard IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
- IEEE 802.20 mobile wireless metropolitan-area network (WMAN) standard
- Downlink of the 3GPP Long-Term Evolution (LTE) fourth-generation mobile broadband standard (4G)
Attributes of OFDMA
OFDMA is one of the primary enabling technologies of Wi-Fi 6, with numerous network benefits.
High throughput
OFDMA's innovations allow radio waves to carry more data in shorter timeframes.
Low latency
OFDMA reduces response times and enhances performance for video, artificial intelligence (AI), and virtual- and augmented-reality applications.
IoT optimization
OFDMA prevents Internet of Things (IoT) devices from using disproportionate network resources.
More-efficient power consumption
OFDMA allows per-channel or per-subchannel power and lower maximal transmission power for low-data-rate users, eliminating pulsed carriers and conserving battery life in devices.
Benefits of OFDMA
Wireless-enabled breakthroughs
Applications that need high throughput and low latency—for video, AI calculations, augmented reality, and virtual reality—can be freed from the desktop. Medical images can be accessed quickly by caregivers in the field, retailers can make greater use of AR online or in stores, and manufacturers can use Wi-Fi 6 to control automated processes.
High-density access
OFDMA helps Wi-Fi 6 provide better service in high-density venues such as airports, lecture halls, and sports arenas.
Application development
Wi-Fi 6 with OFDMA can inspire a new era of wireless computing, since higher-capacity and more-efficient networks can enable businesses to run more applications wirelessly than before.
In addition, high-performance wireless access can support the development of new applications, as software engineers invent new ways to take advantage of the speed and capacity of Wi-Fi 6 with OFDMA.
