What is DFT-s-OFDM?
DFT-s-OFDM is an uplink waveform option in 5G NR that reduces peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) by approximately 4–6 dB compared to standard CP-OFDM. Lower PAPR directly improves power amplifier efficiency in the UE, which is critical for battery life and uplink coverage at the cell edge.
How Does DFT-s-OFDM Work?
Before the normal IFFT of OFDM, a DFT pre-coding step spreads each data symbol across all assigned subcarriers. This transforms a high-PAPR multicarrier signal into a lower-PAPR single-carrier-like signal while preserving the flexible frequency allocation of OFDM. The receiver applies a frequency-domain equaliser followed by an IDFT to recover the data.
Use Cases
Uplink transmission in coverage-limited scenarios (rural, deep indoor), IoT devices and power-constrained UEs needing longer battery life, FR1 uplink for wide-area macro cells.
3GPP / Standards Reference
3GPP TS 38.211 (Physical Channels and Modulation), TS 38.101-1 (FR1 UE Radio Requirements)
Related Terms
CP-OFDM | PAPR | OFDM | UL | NR
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This glossary entry is part of the 5GWorldPro Complete 5G Glossary. To go deeper into 5G architecture and technology, explore our 5G Training courses.
