Systems, apparatuses and methods for a signal extension padding scheme

A system for forward error correction (FEC) padding, the system comprising:

• an input data processing module to obtain a plurality of data symbols for transmission;
• a pre-encoding padding module communicatively coupled to the input data processing module, the pre-encoding padding module being configured to:
• determine a number of information bits that are available for inclusion in a last symbol of the plurality of data symbols;
• select a compatible number of scheduled data subcarriers, the compatible number being a fraction of a number of scheduled data subcarriers used for transmission in a single symbol period under a same bandwidth;
• calculate an integer number of information bits for the last symbol based on the compatible number of scheduled data subcarriers;
• add a number of padding bits to the number of information bits that are available for transmission, wherein the number of padding bits and the number of information bits sum to the integer number of information bits;
• and
• encode, for data transmission, the plurality of data symbols, the plurality of data symbols including the last data symbol having the integer number of information bits.