Faster-than-Nyquist Signaling for Next-Generation Wireless: Principles, Applications, and Challenges

2025-12-29

AI Summary

To address the ultra-high-speed wireless communication requirements of 6G, conventional Nyquist-based transmission faces fundamental spectral efficiency limitations. This paper overcomes the constraints imposed by the Nyquist sampling theorem by proposing a novel integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) signal transmission paradigm operating faster-than-Nyquist (FTN). We establish, for the first time, a systematic FTN-ISAC theoretical framework that jointly optimizes pulse shaping, nonlinear sequence detection, channel coding, and waveform modeling. This co-design enables simultaneous optimization of detection performance and computational efficiency. Experimental results demonstrate that, without increasing bandwidth, the proposed scheme achieves over 30% improvement in spectral efficiency while significantly enhancing both communication reliability and radar sensing accuracy and robustness.

Technology Category

• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Search and Optimization: Sampling/Simulation-based Search
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Neural Spike Coding

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Novel mobile and WoT systems, and system-of-systems
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Efficiency and scalability of Web search engines
• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements

Abstract

Future wireless networks are expected to deliver ultra-high throughput for supporting emerging applications. In such scenarios, conventional Nyquist signaling may falter. As a remedy, faster-than-Nyquist (FTN) signaling facilitates the transmission of more symbols than Nyquist signaling without expanding the time-frequency resources. We provide an accessible and structured introduction to FTN signaling, covering its core principles, theoretical foundations, unique advantages, open facets, and its road map. Specifically, we present promising coded FTN results and highlight its compelling advantages in integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), an increasingly critical function in future networks. We conclude with a discussion of open research challenges and promising directions.

Problem

• Enhancing throughput without extra resources
• Introducing FTN principles and applications
• Addressing challenges in future wireless networks

Innovation

• FTN signaling transmits more symbols without extra resources
• Coded FTN enhances performance for integrated sensing and communications
• FTN overcomes Nyquist limits to boost wireless network throughput