Difference between LDPC and polar coding techniques in 5G

Introduction

In the 5G New Radio (NR) standard, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specifies the use of Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes and Polar codes for channel coding, as detailed in 3GPP TS 38.212. LDPC codes are primarily utilized for data channels, while Polar codes are designated for control channels.

• LDPC codes in 5G NR are employed for encoding data in the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) and Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH). Two base graphs are defined in 3GPP viz. Base Graph 1 (BG1)and Base Graph 2 (BG2).
• Polar codes in 5G NR are used for encoding control information in channels such as Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) and Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH).

Comparison between LDPC and Polar codes

Summary

These coding schemes are integral to achieving the reliability and efficiency goals set for 5G NR, each tailored to the specific requirements of data and control channels.