On the system level performance of cellular FBMC-based wideband PMR network

New physical layer solutions are required for the next generation professional mobile radio (PMR) networks. Filter bank based multi-carrier (FBMC) technique is one of the promising candidates for beyond OFDM 5G wireless communication systems. This paper presents the simulation framework and models necessary for the study of the FBMC-based networks on the system level. PMR-specific 450 MHz frequency band is considered in the study. Special attention is devoted to the implementation of link-to-system interface model, which is sensitive to FBMC intrinsic interference. We demonstrate that even with simple one tap equalizer the performance of OFDM and FBMC systems are very close in the same baseline configuration. Moreover, implementation of advanced receivers together with more flexible and efficient spectrum utilization renders FBMC as the superior technology.