Taking the challenge of multiple access for third-generation cellular mobile radio systems-a European view

In Europe, the challenge of the design of third-generation cellular mobile radio systems has been taken numerous research and development activities in this field have been started. The authors try to give an overview of the European activities in this field. The article is organized in two parts. In the first part, the requirements for third-generation cellular mobile radio systems such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Future Public Land Mobile Telecommunications System (FPLMTS), which has been named International Mobile Telecommunications after the year 2000 (IMT-2000) are presented concisely. Also, the importance and challenge of the multiple access design for such third-generation cellular mobile radio systems is explained. In the second part, numerous European research activities with focus on the multiple access design for third-generation cellular mobile radio systems are reviewed