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RSRQ to SINR Relation

By Maurizio La Rocca

24 April 2016

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28 Comments

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It is common sense that the performance of any wireless system has a direct relationship with
the RF conditions at the time.To aid with performance analysis then, it is typical to de ne
some ranges of RF measurements that correspond to some typical RF conditions one might
nd themselves in.
The following table represents a good classi cation of RF conditions Vs LTE KPIs

The source of this table is a EUTRAN vendor and has been complied during the RF tuning
process for a major US operator. Of course there are no rules as to how various RF conditions
are classi ed, so di erent tables will exist but to a great extent you can expect them to align.

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In this particular example, three measurement quantities are used

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RSRP(ReferenceSignalReceivedPower)

RSRQ(ReferenceSignalReceivedQuality)
SINR(SignaltoInterference&ampNoiseRatio)
You can nd more info about RSRP and RSRQ in our HOT article:RSRP and RSRQ
Measurement in LTE
Instead, in this article we would like to highlight some of question about SINR & RSRQ
relations.

SINR is de ned as:

where:
S: indicates the power of measured usable signals. Reference signals (RS) and physical
downlink shared channels (PDSCHs) are mainly involved
I: indicates the average interference power the power of measured signals or
channel interference signals from other cells in the current system
N: indicates background noise, which is related to measurement bandwidths and
receiver noise coe

cients

All quantities are measured over the same bandwidth and normalized to one sub-carrier
bandwidth.
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SINR is a measure of signal quality as well but it is not dened in the 3GPP specs but dened by the UE
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vendor. It is not reported to the network. SINR is used a lot by operators, and the LTE industry in

general, as it better quanties the relationship between RF conditions and Throughput. UEs
typically use SINR to calculate the CQI (Channel Quality Indicator) they report to the network.

It is a common practice to use Signal-to-Interference Ratio (SINR) as an indicator for network

quality. It should be however noted that 3GPP speci cations do not de ne SINR; therefore UE
does not report SINR to the network. SINR is still internally measured by most UEs and
recorded by drive test tools.
Unfortunately, UE chipset and RF scanner manufacturers have implemented SINR
measurement in various di erent ways which in the eld experience is not always easily
comparable. While at rst it may seem that de ning SINR should be unambiguous, in case of
LTE downlink this is not the case. This is because di erent REs within a radio frame carry
di erent physical signals and channels each of which, in turn, see di erent interference power
depending on inter-cell radio frame synchronization.
For example, in a frame-synchronized network, SINR estimation based on synchronization
signals (PSS/SSS) results in di erent SINR than SINR estimation based on Reference Signals,
since in the latter case the frequency shift of the RS depends on the PCI plan.
RSRQ is de ned as

In what follows we show one way of converting RSRQ to SINR.

In OFDM own cell interference is often assumed to be negligible and consequently I is due to
other cell interference only.
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RSSI is de ned as

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where the subscript totindicates that the power is measured over the 12NRE sub-carriers of
the measurement bandwidth.
The total serving cell received power depends on the number of transmitted sub-carriers in
the OFDM symbol carrying R0, and on the number of transmit antennas.
We can model this impact using the per-antenna sub-carrier activity factor x and set

The value of x = 1 indicates full load such that all sub-carriers of one transmit antenna are transmitted for
the OFDM symbol carrying R0. If only RS is transmitted (i.e., unloaded cell) the resulting sub-carrier
activity factors would be x = 1/6 and x = 1/3 for one and two transmit antennas, respectively.
When calculating x for two transmit antennas, one should take into account that REs overlapping with
adjacent antenna RS transmission are muted, and therefore, for example, in a fully loaded 2Tx cell the
scaling factor is x = 5/3, instead of two.

It is assumed that all sub-carriers have the same power, i.e., there is no power boosting for any
channel. Since sub-carrier interference plus noise power is:

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Combining above equations,

we have
the following
relation of
average
sub-carrier SINR
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and RSRQ:

and nally:

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Sub-Carrier Activity Factor

An uncomfortable property of the RSRQ to SINR mapping is that it depends on the
instantaneous serving cell sub-carrier activity factor x, which is typically not known in live
network measurements
As before, the value of x = 1 indicates full load such that all sub-carriers of one transmit
antenna are transmitted for the OFDM symbol carrying R0.
If only RS is transmitted (i.e., unloaded cell) the resulting sub-carrier activity factors would be x = 1/6
and x = 1/3 for one and two transmit antennas, respectively.

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When calculating x for two transmit antennas, one should take into account that REs overlapping
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with adjacent antenna RS transmission are muted, and therefore, for example, in a fully loaded 2Tx

cell the scaling factor is x = 5/3, instead of two

Another problem is the sensitivity of the mapping on RSRQ values. A small change in RSRQ
can result in a very large change in SINR which makes such mapping di

cult to use in

fading radio conditions.

Indeed, plotting a RSRQ versus SINR scatter graph from a drive test measurement one rarely
obtains such a nice-looking curve as shown in the Figure above.
Currently available measurement UEs and scanners report SINR directly.

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Vella

Reply

24 April 2016 at 17:56

I love the article,it is very interesting.

But I want to ask why If only RS is transmitted (i.e., unloaded cell) the resulting
sub-carrier activity factors would be x = 1/6 and x = 1/3 for one and two transmit
antennas, respectively is there any formula about it?

Maurizio La Rocca

Reply

28 April 2016 at 15:29

Hi Vella, you can nd our explanation in our ANSWER Section:

http://laroccasolutions.com/question-and-answer/
Your answer is at the speci c link http://laroccasolutions.com/answers-toyour-questions/answer/

Vella

Reply

4 May 2016 at 11:15

Thank you! I could understand that.

Actually I am doing a research in LTE networks with my
professor.Your articles helps me a lot and I am really appreciated
.

Qing

Reply

6 June 2016 at 11:13

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The value of x should be uni ed in the equation of SINR.

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SINR=X/[(1/12*RSRQ)-X]

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and the max. value of x should be 1.How can it equal to 2,412 in the legend of
plot?

Maurizio La Rocca

Reply

7 June 2016 at 10:49

Hi Qing, you are right! Ive just updated the picture and inserted on it the
right value.
So you will see now SINR for 2x, SINR for 4x, and so on.

Please note that this graph is with the assumption of unloaded Cell. This
means that only 2 RE are used in the RB!

Marco

Reply

7 June 2016 at 0:17

Hi Maurizio

Very interesting article. There as small error in the plot of SINR vs RSRQ. In the
legend x should be the ratio between used REs and total RBs so it should be less
than 1. Furhtermore the two plots of x=1/4 and x=1/2 are exchanged

Best regards
Marco

Maurizio La Rocca

Reply

7 June 2016 at 10:51

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Hi Marco, as explained before to Qing, there was an error in the Legend

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of the Graph and we uploaded a new version just now.

Im not understanding what you mean about 1/4 and 1/2 are
exchanged

Please let me understand

Badri Narayanan

Reply

8 July 2016 at 18:45

Hi Marco,
I am doing a capacity simulation with load metric as PRB
Utilization impacting RSRQ which inturns impacts SINR. When i
try to apply this formula of RSRQ to SINR mapping i am not
getting a smooth trendline as shown in the section. More over
with increasing load SINR seems to improve which shouldnt be
the case. Not sure if i am missing anything here.
Regards,
Badri

Maurizio La Rocca

Reply

11 July 2016 at 13:11

Hi Badri,
I am Maurizio, not Marco
BTW, It is not totally clear what you write. Could you
kindly provide us more info?
e.g. Could you share your formula and how you build it
up?

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Thx,
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Badri Narayanan
14 July 2016 at 5:28

Hi Maurizio,
Extremely sorry for the mix up of names..,
To be precise i am estimating the SINR from
RSRQ values for Dynamic Load Simulation. The
expectation is RSRQ value varies with DL PRB
load in the cell which will be used for
calculating the value X (from Network
Performance counters). So the ow of
algorithm is
Load Changes -> RSRQ Changes> SINR
Changes > Throughput changes

Pls nd in below link the sheet i used to

calculate SINR from di erent RSRQ values.
Appreciate your comments.

https://www.media re.com/?njc1pcqjhbbhtix

Thanks,
S.Badri Narayanan

Badri Narayanan

Reply

20 July 2016 at 16:20

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Hi Maurizio,

Good day to you. Did you have a chance to look into the data shared. Appreciate

your comments and update if any..,
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Thanks,
S.Badri Narayanan

Maurizio La Rocca

Reply

21 July 2016 at 11:22

Hello Badri, yes I saw it

Lets think about a SISO analysis rst.
From my understanding you assumed x=1,16666667. This mean that you
are calculating SINR for 10x of our graph. Is this right?
Just in case, you use the formula with 12 at numerator but you done a
mistake into the le excel. You forgot to change x to (12*x).

Please have a look at: EstimatedSINR_fromRSRQ_1-Rev.LRS.xlsx

I have just write some comments into your Excel le and I add some
calculation in the same sheet.

About MIMO please read above:

If only RS is transmitted (i.e., unloaded cell) the resulting sub-carrier activity
factors would be x = 1/6 and x = 1/3 for one and two transmit antennas, respectively
When calculating x for two transmit antennas, one should take into account
that REs overlapping with adjacent antenna RS transmission are muted, and
therefore, for example, in a fully loaded 2Tx cell the scaling factor is x = 5/3,
instead of two

Furthermore, we are going to publish as soon as possible another article

about Throughput analysis on LTE. Keep in touch and subscribe to our
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newsletters!!!
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Last but not least, please vote this article and Share!!!

Thx,

Maurizio

Badri Narayanan

Reply

25 July 2016 at 11:12

Thanks Maurizio. I downloaded the sheet but the formulas are referenced to your
local machine data so i am getting #Ref. Can you pls copy paste the values and if
possible seperate calculations for SISO and MIMO would be of assistance.

Thanks,
S.Badri Narayanan

Maurizio La Rocca

Reply

28 July 2016 at 14:35

Hello Badri, I have just upload a new le with better quality. You can nd
it at:

http://www.media re.com/download/ob3nudtvxbw4bek/EstimatedSINR_fromRSR
Rev._2.0_LRS.xlsx

Hani

Reply

5 August 2016 at 23:10

Maurizio,

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You are giving detailed and clear answers for everyone. Thank you for that.

My question is, How we can know if there Up-link interference from led ( Physical
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Layer) for Lte network ?

Or lets say is there any way to check the Up-link interference from normal drive
test data ?

Thanks

Hani

Maurizio La Rocca

Reply

6 August 2016 at 18:37

Hello Hani! First of all thanks for your comment. At laroccasolutions we

are happy to answer all your questions!

About your point, I would like to understand more: are you talking about
interference that network could receive when mobile send data or?

Please give me more details as you can to be able to concentrate on the

right point!.
Thx!

Ben Jones

Reply

18 August 2016 at 3:23

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So, from your table at the top, excellent has an RSRQ of -10 or better, and a SINR
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of 20 or better but in the calculator excel sheets linked, an RSRQ of -10

corresponds to a SINR of 1.27 for SISO. Even an RSRQ of -3 comes out to a SINR
of ~8.5.

What am I missing here?

Maurizio La Rocca

Reply

2 September 2016 at 19:50

Hi Ben,
maybe it is just our mistake. The table at top of the page is just an
example about a classi cation of RSRP, RSRQ & SINR levels. In fact, you
can de ne such threshold base on your analysis. A good level, could be a
bad one. All depend from the approach that you desire. Naturally TOP &
BOTTOM threshold are xed by technology.

Soon Young Yoon

Reply

24 August 2016 at 12:12

Hi Maurizio

For 2 Tx case, which is correct?

SINR= 1/(1/(10*RSRQ) x) or 1/(1/(20*RSRQ) x)

Thx,

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Soon Young

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Maurizio La Rocca

Reply

6 September 2016 at 18:19

Hi! The correct formula is the same I indicated before and not the one you
wrote. I think you done a mistake about 12 to 10
BTW, the only thing will change is x. When calculating x for two transmit
antennas, you have ot remember that REs overlapping with adjacent
antenna RS transmission are muted, and therefore, for example, in a fully
loaded 2Tx cell the scaling factor is x = 5/3 (20/12), instead of two.

Stepan K.

Reply

3 October 2016 at 16:16

Dear Maurizio,

It seems, that your formula (SINR = SINR(RSRQ)) and the gure contradict the
table that you give in the beginning:

according to your formula SINR(dB) = RSRQ(dB) + a, 10 < a < 15, and according
to the table SINR(dB) = RSRQ(dB) + b, 20 < b < 30.

So where is the truth?

Stepan K.

Maurizio La Rocca

Reply

3 October 2016 at 17:02

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Dear Stepan K,

that Table, as Ive already explained, is just a simple reference table where

you can classi cation of RF conditions Vs LTE KPIs. Furthermore, in the
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table theres no any formula!

Maybe I will have to cut out the table Is creating confusion ?

The right formula is the one at the end of the page!

Thx,

Maurizio

Stev Aryanto

Reply

9 October 2016 at 3:45

Hello,

what is relation of x and PRB utilization?

I have noticed from drive test results that cell will low PRB util will have lot better
SINR compare to high PRB util

Thanks

Stev

Maurizio La Rocca

Reply

18 October 2016 at 0:14

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Hello Stev,

Drive Tests results from a simulation with some parameters locked or real

Drive Tests on eld?
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Could you kindly share a .csv of data you are talking about? We would like
to look at it. Of course, please put a short comment into it.
Thx!

Erik O

Reply

22 November 2016 at 20:12

Maurizio, thanks so much for the detailed analysis. Do you have a source for the
table at the top?

Maurizio La Rocca

Reply

24 November 2016 at 7:50

This table is just an example about how RF Conditions could be classi ed

to de ne di erent satisfaction levels. It is something that any RF Engineer
can build by himself.
In case of needs we could help to build up such table.

Abubaker M. Waswa

Reply

20 December 2016 at 14:43

Hello Maurizio,

In reference to the question by Hani, is there a possibility of nding the UPLINK

(UL) SINR at the eNB using an equivalent (appropriate) formula. This of course
should take into consideration that the LTE UPLINK (UL) is using SC-FDMA.

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