Simulative MAC Level Performance Evaluation of an OFDMA System Under the Consideration of Frequency Correlated Fading

This paper is focused on the performance evaluation of OFDMA systems under the consideration of frequency correlated subchannel fading. A comprehensive model for the generation of correlated fading processes is proposed for the application in MAC level simulations. In contrast to most works in the research field of OFDMA, with this approach it is possible to conduct performance evaluations which incorporate both the traits of the medium access control scheme and of the physical layer. To approve the importance of considering correlation properties of the subchannels fading in an OFDMA system, a centrally controlled system based on IEEE 802.16 is analyzed in detail by means of stochastic event-driven simulations.