This paper presents a Zadoff-Chu matrix transform (ZCMT) precoding based multicarrier orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing (OFDM) system to minimize the high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). In the proposed system, ZCMT kernel is applied to the constellation symbols which not only reduces PAPR but also improves bit-error-rate (BER) performance. The ZCMT precoded OFDM signals allow the radio-frequency high-power-amplifier (HPA) to operate near its saturation level, thus maximize the power efficiency. Extensive computer simulations have been performed to analyze the PAPR, BER and power-spectral-density (PSD). Simulation results show that the proposed system has excellent PAPR gain and BER performance with no spectral distortion. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.