  Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) was recently proposed as a viable
technology that can potentially provide the spectral efficiency, low latency,
and massive connectivity requirements of future radio networks. In this
context, numerous ultra-high reliability technologies such as the industrial
Internet of things, smart grids, and smart homes present environments which are
characterized by the presence of impulsive electromagnetic interference, known
as impulsive noise. Under such conditions, the power domain multiplexing in
NOMA is expected to render the system particularly sensitive to this additional
impulsive noise. Therefore, in this article, we quantify the effects of
impulsive noise on the outage performance of uplink NOMA systems. Extensive
Monte-Carlo simulations as well as offered analytical results demonstrate the
vulnerability of the involved NOMA users to this type of noise. This highlights
the need for effective modeling of the impulsive noise as well as the design of
mitigation techniques that are suitable for the particular demands and
challenges of NOMA.
