5G NR Frame Structure

The 5th generation (5G) wireless access technology, known as new radio (NR), will address a variety of usage scenarios from enhanced mobile broadband to ultra-reliable low-latency communications to massive machine type communications. Key technology features include ultra-lean transmission, support for low latency, advanced antenna technologies, and spectrum flexibility including operation in high frequency bands and inter-working between high and low frequency bands. This article provides an overview of the essentials of the state of the art in 5G wireless technology represented by the 3GPP NR technical specifications, with a focus on the physical layer. We describe the fundamental concepts of 5G NR, explain in detail the design of physical channels and reference signals, and share the various design rationales influencing standardization.

Waveform, Numerology, and Frame Structure

The choice of radio waveform is the core physical layer decision for any wireless access technology. After assessments of all the waveform proposals, 3GPP agreed to adopt orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with a cyclic-prefix (CP) for both DL and UL transmissions. CP-OFDM can enable low implementation complexity and low cost for wide bandwidth operations and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technologies. NR also supports the use of discrete Fourier transform (DFT) spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM) in the uplink to improve coverage.

in this Frame structure we have increased number of OFDM Symbols and extra sub carriers spacing schemes, resulting in higher RBS for users in real time with high data rates.