Introduction to LDPC and Polar Codes in 5G

Modern wireless communication demands ultra-reliable, high-speed data transmission, which is made possible by advanced error-correction codes. This text-only course guides you through the core mathematics and practical structures of Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) and Polar codes, the two primary channel coding standards selected for 5G New Radio (NR).\n\nWhat you'll learn:\n- Understand the foundational concepts of channel coding, error correction, and Shannon capacity limits.\n- Explore the structure and design of LDPC codes used for 5G data channels.\n- Learn the principles of Polar codes used for 5G control channels.\n- Examine key decoding algorithms, including Belief Propagation and Successive Cancellation.\n- Analyze how these codes are specified and implemented within the official 5G NR standard.\n- Practice analyzing code performance and structure through clear, step-by-step written exercises.\n\nYou will start with essential communications terminology and basic matrix algebra before stepping through the matrix representations of LDPC codes and the polarization principles of Polar codes. The material wraps up with a clear look at how these codes operate in real-world 5G hardware configurations. Designed for beginners in telecommunications, engineering students, and software developers, this course requires no prior advanced coding theory. Start reading today to master the coding standards that drive modern mobile networks.