4G and 5G KPIs: CSSR, DCR, HOSR, RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, Throughput, Latency, PRB Utilization, Packet Loss Rate
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Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are measurable metrics used by mobile operators to evaluate the performance, reliability, and quality of 4G LTE and 5G NR networks. These KPIs help engineers monitor radio coverage, signal quality, throughput, latency, call success rates, handover performance, and network availability. Understanding 4G and 5G KPIs enables effective network optimization, troubleshooting, capacity planning, and improved user experience. This page covers RSRP, RSRQ, SINR, Throughput, Latency, CSSR, DCR, HOSR, PRB Utilization and Packet Loss Rate.
RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power)
This KPI measures the absolute strength of the signal received by the user’s device from the cell tower. A higher RSRP indicates better coverage.
4G LTE Limit: Typical Range: -140 to -44 dBm 5G NR Limit: Typical Range: -140 to -44 dBm
RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality)
This measures the quality of the received signal by taking interference into consideration. Lower interference results in a higher (better) RSRQ.
4G LTE Limit: Typical Range: -19 to -3 dB 5G NR Limit: Typical Range: -19 to -3 dB
SINR (Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio)
This is a crucial metric for data performance. It measures the strength of the desired signal compared to the combined background noise and interference from other signals. Higher SINR allows for higher data rates.
- 4G LTE Limit: Typical Range: -3 to 30 dB
- 5G NR Limit: Typical Range: -10 to 30+ dB
THROUGHPUT (Data Transmission Speed)
This is the actual speed at which data is transferred over the network. It is affected by signal strength, network load, and available bandwidth.
- 4G LTE Limit: Measured in Mbps (Megabits per second)
- 5G NR Limit: Measured in Mbps / Gbps (Megabits per second / Gigabits per second)
LATENCY (Time Delay)
This measures the time delay for data transmission to travel from the source to the destination and back. Lower latency provides a much better experience, especially for real-time services like gaming or video calling.
- 4G LTE Limit: Typical Range: 30 to 100+ ms
- 5G NR Limit: Typical Range: 1 to 20 ms (Noticeably lower than 4G)
CSSR (Call Setup Success Rate)
The percentage of times a user successfully initiates a voice call or data session. It indicates how accessible the network is.
- 4G LTE Limit: Target: > 98%
- 5G NR Limit: Target: > 98%
DCR (Drop Call Rate)
The percentage of calls (or data sessions) that are disconnected unexpectedly after being successfully established. A lower rate means better reliability.
- 4G LTE Limit: Target: < 2%
- 5G NR Limit: Target: < 2%
HOSR (Handover Success Rate)
Measures how successfully a user’s connection is transferred from one cell tower to another while they are moving. High rates ensure seamless, uninterrupted connectivity.
- 4G LTE Limit: Target: > 98%
- 5G NR Limit: Target: > 98%
PRB UTILIZATION (Physical Resource Block Utilization)
Indicates the percentage of the network’s available radio resources that are currently being used. High utilization points to heavy traffic and possible network congestion.
- 4G LTE Limit: Target: 50% to 70%
- 5G NR Limit: Target: 50% to 70%
PACKET LOSS RATE (Data Packet Loss)
The percentage of data packets that fail to reach their destination. A lower packet loss rate ensures data reliability and better quality for services like streaming.
- 4G LTE Limit: Target: < 1%
- 5G NR Limit: Target: < 1%
Summary
4G and 5G KPIs provide valuable insights into network health and performance. Continuous KPI monitoring helps operators deliver reliable, high speed, and efficient wireless services.