Performance analysis for some practical high data rate extensions of UTRA FDD uplink

The UTRA FDD uplink performance is evaluated from the maximum single user data rate point of view. Performance evaluation based on link simulations and the analysis covers both capacity and coverage limited scenarios. Three different approaches to get the data rate higher than 2 Mb/s per user are considered: higher order modulation; additional code puncturing; information MIMO. These techniques are evaluated under different assumptions for a base station receiver. A parallel interference cancellation (PIC) receiver is compared against the conventional MRC/RAKE combining approach with 2-8 antennas at the base station. Results show that the information MIMO approach seems to be the most efficient way to increase the user bit rate beyond 2.5 Mb/s in the uplink when there are more than two receiving antennas at the base station. The SIMO approach is a better choice for data rates lower than 2.5 Mb/s. To achieve high data rates in the UTRA FDD UL, it is more efficient to increase the effective coding rate by increasing the degree of code puncturing instead of increasing the order of modulation. Combining MIMO and PIC can provide relatively high data rates with a relatively low number of antennas. Results show also that single user bit rates of about 6 Mb/s can be achieved if two transmit antennas, four receive antennas, a PIC receiver and 50% system load are assumed.