Pushing the Limits: Unlocking the Potential of Faster-than-Nyquist Signaling

2026-06-17

AI Summary

This study addresses the challenge of surpassing the Nyquist limit to enhance communication capacity under constrained spectrum resources by systematically investigating the performance limits of Faster-than-Nyquist (FTN) signaling under practical constraints—including power amplifier nonlinearities, high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR), short-packet transmission, and low-complexity receiver requirements. Through information-theoretic analysis, non-ideal hardware modeling, PAPR mitigation for high-order modulation, and the development of FTN-tailored low-complexity reception and channel coding schemes, this work provides the first comprehensive evaluation of FTN’s capacity gains across varying acceleration factors and signal-to-noise ratio definitions. The results validate FTN’s substantial potential to improve spectral efficiency and offer a practical design pathway that balances performance and feasibility for applications such as satellite communications and low-latency systems.

Abstract

Faster-than-Nyquist (FTN) signaling is gaining attention as a smart way to pack more data into limited spectrum by intentionally breaking the traditional symbol-spacing rules. This article takes a fresh look at FTN's potential to boost capacity, examining how performance varies across different acceleration factors and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) definitions. Beyond the theory, we explore what it takes to make FTN work in practice, such as dealing with power amplifier constraints, managing high peak-to-average power, and designing practical coding strategies. We also highlight real-world issues like spectrum sharing, short-packet communication, and receiver complexity. With applications ranging from low-latency links to integrated sensing and satellite systems, FTN offers a compelling path forward for future wireless technologies.

Problem

• Faster-than-Nyquist signaling
• spectral efficiency
• power amplifier constraints
• peak-to-average power ratio
• short-packet communication

Innovation

• Faster-than-Nyquist signaling
• spectral efficiency
• peak-to-average power ratio
• practical coding
• receiver complexity