Home > Technical Articles > Advanced Channel Coding in 5G and 6G

Advanced channel coding

Advanced channel coding is a key technology used in 5G and 6G networks to improve the reliability and efficiency of data transmission over the air interface. Channel coding involves adding redundant information to the data being transmitted in order to counteract the effects of noise, interference, and other channel impairments that can affect the accuracy of the transmitted data.

In 5G and 6G networks, advanced channel coding techniques are used to improve the performance of the air interface by increasing the reliability and efficiency of data transmission. This is achieved by using a combination of error correction codes (ECCs) and forward error correction (FEC) techniques.

Error correction codes (ECCs)

Error correction codes (ECCs) are used to detect and correct errors that occur during data transmission. ECCs are based on mathematical algorithms that add redundant information to the data being transmitted, allowing the receiver to detect and correct errors in the received data.

Forward error correction (FEC)

Forward error correction (FEC) is another technique used to improve the reliability of data transmission. FEC involves adding redundant information to the data being transmitted, which can be used by the receiver to recover the original data even in the presence of errors. FEC can be combined with error correction codes to provide a highly reliable and efficient method for transmitting data over the air interface.

In 5G networks, advanced channel coding techniques such as Polar codes, Low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, and Turbo codes are used to provide high-speed and reliable data transmission. In 6G networks, advanced channel coding techniques are expected to be further enhanced to support the high data rates and low latency requirements of emerging use cases and applications.

By improving the reliability and efficiency of data transmission over the air interface, advanced channel coding is a key enabling technology for 5G and 6G networks, allowing them to support new and innovative use cases and applications.

Polar codes, Low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, and Turbo codes

Polar codes, Low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, and Turbo codes are all advanced error correction coding techniques used in modern communication systems, including 5G and 6G.

Polar codes

Polar codes are a type of linear block code that was first introduced by Arikan in 2009. They are characterized by a specific coding scheme that transforms a set of independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) bit channels into a set of channels with different error rates. The method provides a computationally efficient approach for achieving channel capacity with a low decoding complexity. Polar codes have been included in the 5G standard as an optional error correction technique, and it is expected that they will play a larger role in 6G.

LDPC codes

LDPC codes, on the other hand, are a class of linear error-correcting codes that have been studied since the 1960s. They are based on sparse matrices and have low encoding and decoding complexity. They have proven to be effective in correcting errors introduced by various communication channels, including wireless and optical communication channels. LDPC codes have been widely used in 5G and are expected to be a key technology for 6G.

Turbo codes

Turbo codes, introduced by Berrou et al. in 1993, are a type of parallel concatenated code that have been used in various communication systems, including 3G and 4G. They use two or more convolutional codes in parallel with an interleaver to improve the error correction capability. Turbo codes provide excellent performance, and their iterative decoding algorithm has been widely studied. While their use in 5G is limited, they are still used in some 5G applications, and their role in 6G is yet to be determined.

Summary

In summary, Polar codes, LDPC codes, and Turbo codes are all important error correction techniques used in modern communication systems, including 5G and 6G. Each has its own unique advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of code depends on the specific requirements of the communication system.