Internal Use Only

FDD LTE Key Performance Indicators

Description Guide
CDMA & FDD LTE Product Support Department

Internal Use Only

Learning Objectives
After having learned this training course, you should
be able to understand:

Basic knowledge of FDD LTE KPIs

Categories of FDD LTE KPIs

Formulas of FDD LTE KPIs

Internal Use Only

Contents
Basic Knowledge of FDD LTE KPIs
FDD LTE eNodeB KPIs
FDD LTE Network KPIs
Other FDD LTE KPIs

References

Internal Use Only

Counters, Definitions, and Numbering Conventions

For more information, refer to the NetNumen M31(LTE) NE Management System

eNodeB Performance Counter Reference at the following URL:
http://tsm.zte.com.cn/tsm/FileCenter/File.aspx?Mode=read&FileID=30341574

Formulas

For more information, refer to the NetNumen M31(LTE) NE Management System

eNodeB Key Performance Indicator Reference at the following URL:
http://tsm.zte.com.cn/tsm/FileCenter/File.aspx?Mode=read&FileID=30341576

Internal Use Only

Counter Example

Counter

Example

Measurement
Object

Measurement
Number

Measurement
Type

Counter Name

Counter
Sequence
Number

Cell Type

37320

Statistics of RRC
Connection
Establishment

Number of Successful mtAccess RRC Connection

Establishment

C373200000

Internal Use Only

Counter Structure
Measurement
Object

Measurement
Type

ID: 780-799

Cell Type
eNodeB Type
eNodeB IP Link
Type
Cell Pair Type

Counter

ID: 373320-373399

Statistics of RRC
connection
establishment
Statistics of E-RAB
Statistics of time
Type of a cell pair
Other

ID: C + Measurement
Type Number +
XXX

Number of
successful mtAccess RRC
connection
establishment
Number of
unsuccessful mtAccess RRC
connection
establishment
(timer timeout)
Other

KPI/PI
KPI ID: 310500-310799

RRC connection
establishment
success rate
Other

PI ID: 310500-310799

Paging congestion
rate
Other

Reporting Procedure

Internal Use Only

This reporting procedure is described as follows:

Step 1 The RNLC subsystem reports data to the OAM using the event-triggered reporting mechanism.
Step 2 The CMAC, RNLU, BRS, or OSS subsystem reports data to the OAM every 10 seconds.
Step 3 The OAM synchronizes data with the OMC for each measurement object every 15 minutes.

KPI Overview

Internal Use Only

Description
Mobile subscriber (Serviceability + Reliability): An FDD LTE can provide a
mobile subscriber with high-quality, reliable, and long-term services.
Mobile operator (Serviceability + Reliability + Traffic): An FDD LTE can provide
as many mobile subscribers as possible with high-quality, reliable, and longterm services.
Dependency
System performance: UE + eNodeB + Transport + EPC
Applicable environments: Bandwidth configuration, radio access, mobility
speed, service type, and so on
Categories
FDD LTE eNodeB KPIs
FDD LTE Network KPIs

Internal Use Only

Contents
Basic Knowledge of FDD LTE KPIs
FDD LTE eNodeB KPIs
FDD LTE Network KPIs
Other FDD LTE KPIs

FDD LTE eNodeB KPIs

Latency

C-Plane Latency

U-Plane Latency

Throughput (Mono-UE)

Peak UE Data Rate

Average UE Data Rate

Cell Edge UE Data Rate

Cell Capacity (Multi-UE)

Peak Cell Throughput

Average Cell Throughput

Cell-Edge UE Throughput

Internal Use Only

Internal Use Only

U-Plane Latency
Round Trip Time
Combined EPC Application Server
eNodeB
UE

ping

Measured Round Trip Time

Dependency
Radio frequency: Under cell, mid-cell, and cell edge
Neighbor cell loading: Unloaded and loaded
Scheduling algorithm: Pre-scheduled and non-scheduled
Ping size: 32 B, 1000 B, and 1500 B

C-Plane Latency
State Transition Time

Signaling Procedure

Internal Use Only

Internal Use Only

Throughput (Mono-UE)
Peak UE Data Rate

Transmission

Terminal

BS
DownlinkorUplinkDataStream

Assumption

Loading: Single cell, unloaded

UE speed: Stationary mode

Location: Under cell (good RF conditions)

MIMO configuration: DL 2*2 MIMO, UL 1*2 SIMO

Dependency

Operating bandwidth

UE category

UE UL/DL RB limitation

E.g. Gateways,
Routers,
Firewalls

Application Server
at NGMN network edge

Throughput (Mono-UE)
Average UE Data Rate

Assumption

MIMO configuration: DL 2*2 MIMO, UL 1*2 SIMO

Loading: 1 UE in the serving cell, neighbor cell loaded

UE speed: Stationary mode

Location: Uniformly-distributed locations over the signal quality range

Dependency

Operating bandwidth

UE category

UE UL/DL RB limitation

UE distribution in each signal range

Internal Use Only

Throughput (Mono-UE)
Cell-Edge UE Data Rate

Assumption

MIMO configuration: DL 2*2 MIMO, UL 1*2 SIMO

Loading: 1 UE in the serving cell, neighbor cell loaded

UE speed: Stationary mode

Location: Cell edge

Dependency

Operating bandwidth

UE category

UE UL/DL RB limitation

UE SINR at the cell edge

Internal Use Only

Throughput (Multi-UE)
Peak Cell Throughput

Assumption

MIMO configuration: DL 2*2 MIMO, UL 1*2 SIMO

Loading: Multiple cells, loaded (70%)

UE Speed: Stationary mode

Location: Good RF conditions

Dependency

UE category: TBS limitation, 64QAM in UL

UE UL/DL RB limitation

Environment: Dense urban, urban, suburban, and rural

Scheduling algorithm

Internal Use Only

Internal Use Only

Throughput (Multi-UE)
Average Cell Throughput
Typical UE Distribution Model

Assumption

MIMO configuration: DL 2*2 MIMO, UL 1*2 SIMO

Loading: Multiple cells, loaded

UE speed: Stationary Mode

Location: Uniformly-distributed over the signal quality range

Dependency

UE category (TBS limitation, 64QAM in UL)

UE UL/DL RB limitation

UE distribution in each signal range, scheduling algorithm

Throughput (Multi-UE)
Cell-Edge UE Throughput

Assumption

MIMO configuration: DL 2*2 MIMO, UL 1*2 SIMO

Loading: Multiple cells, loaded (70%)

UE speed: Stationary mode

Location: Cell edge

Dependency

UE category (TBS limitation, 64QAM in UL)

UE UL/DL RB limitation

Environment: Dense urban, urban, suburban, and rural

Scheduling algorithm

UE SINR at the cell edge

Internal Use Only

Internal Use Only

Contents
Basic Knowledge of FDD LTE KPIs
FDD LTE eNodeB KPIs
FDD LTE Network KPIs
Other FDD LTE KPIs

FDD LTE Network KPIs

Accessibility
RRC Establishment Success Rate
E-RAB Setup Success Rate
Retainability
E-RAB Drop Rate
Mobility
Handover Success Rate
Availability
Cell Availability
Integrity
Packet Loss Rate
DL PDCP SDU Latency

Internal Use Only

Internal Use Only

Accessibility
Theoretical limit: 100%
Ideal value in a commercial network: > 98%

Accessibility
(Category)

Initial E-RAB
Accessibility

KPI

RRC Connection
Setup
Success Rate

S1-SIG Establish
Success Rate

Initial E-RAB Setup

Success Rate

Added E-RAB
Accessibility

Attach Success Rate

Detach Success Rate

RRC
Re-Establishment
Success Rate

Paging Success Rate

Air Interface

RRC Connection
Setup
Success Rate

S1-SIG Establish
Success Rate

KPI

UE Context Setup
Success Rate

Added E-RAB
Setup
Success Rate

E-RAB Setup
Success Rate

E-RAB Block Rate

(per QCI)

Call Setup Success

Rate, Call Barring Rate

Contention-Based
PRACH
Performance

Contention-Free
PRACH
Performance

Internal Use Only

RRC Establishment Success Rate

Description
This KPI shows the probability for a subscriber to be provided with an RRC
connection upon request.

Signaling Procedure

1
2
3

Formula
RRC Establishment Success Rate = Number of successful RRC connection
establishment / (Number of successful RRC connection establishment + Number of
failed RRC connection establishment) * 100%

Internal Use Only

E-RAB Setup Success Rate

Description
This KPI shows the probability for a subscriber to be provided with an E-RAB request
including initial and added context setup procedures.

Signaling Procedure
eNB
INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST

INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP RESPONSE

eNB

MME

E-RAB SETUP REQUEST

E-RAB SETUP RESPONSE

MME

3
4

Formula
E-RAB Setup Success Rate = (Number of successful initial E-RAB + Number of successful ad
ded E-RAB establishment) / (Number of successful initial E-RAB establishment + Number of f
ailed initial E-RAB establishment + Number of successful added E-RAB establishment + Num
ber of failed added E-RAB establishment) * 100%

Internal Use Only

Retainability
Theoretical limit: 0%
Ideal value in a commercial network: < 2%

Retainability
(Category)

KPI
UE E-RAB
Retainability
Per QCI

UE E-RAB
Retainability

RRC Drop Rate

E-RAB Drop
Rate
(Per QCI)

How Often

E-RAB Duration
Time per QCI Drop

Percentage

E-RAB UL Data
Volume
Per QCI Drop
QoS Before Drop

E-RAB DL Data
Volume
Per QCI Drop

Active E-RAB
Drop Rate

Internal Use Only

E-RAB Drop Rate

Description
This KPI shows the probability for an a subscriber to loss the E-RAB, such as an event b
eing released by the eNodeB due to overload control.

Signaling Procedure
E-RAB Released by the eNodeB))
eNB

MME

E-RAB RELEASE INDICATION

Formula
E-RAB Drop Rate = Number of Abnormally Released E-RAB / Number of Successfully
Established E-RAB * 100%

Internal Use Only

Mobility
Successful Handover Categories

Intra-Freq
Intra-eNodeB

Intra-Freq
Inter-eNodeB

Inter-Freq
Inter-eNodeB

Inter-Freq
Intra-eNodeB

LTE to UMTS

UMTS to LTE

LTE to GSM

Inter- RAT HO Success Rate

X2 Based HO

Contention Based
HO

S1 Based HO

All Incoming HO
Per Cell

All Outgoing HO
Per Cell

All Incoming HO
Per Cell Pair

All Outgoing HO
Per Cell Pair

Contention Free
HO

Intra-RAT HO Success Rate

Troubleshooting

GSM to LTE

Mobility

Internal Use Only

Handover
Handover Preparation Success Rate
Theoretical limit: 100%
Ideal value in a commercial network 99%
(Step 4 Step 6)

Handover Execution Success Rate

Theoretical limit: 100%
Ideal value in a commercial network: 98%
HO In: Step 6 Step 11
HO Out: Step 7 Step 17

Mobility Success Rate

Theoretical limit: 100%
Ideal value in a commercial network: 97%

MobilitySR HO. Pr eparationSR HO.ExecutionSR

Internal Use Only

Handover Preparation and Execution

Handover

Start Point

Stop Point

Outgoing handover
preparation

The source eNodeB decides to perform a

handover.

The source eNodeB sends the RRC

Connection Reconfiguration message to the
UE.

Outgoing handover
execution

The source eNodeB sends the RRC

Connection Reconfiguration message to
the UE.

The source eNodeB receives the UE Context

Release message from the destination
eNodeB.

Incoming handover
preparation

The destination eNodeB receives the

Handover Request message from the
source eNodeB.

The destination eNodeB returns the Handover

Response message to the source eNodeB.

Incoming handover
execution

The destination eNodeB receives the

RRC Connection Reconfiguration
Complete message from the UE.

The destination eNodeB sends the UE Context

Release message to the source eNodeB.

Cell Handover and Cell Pair Handover

Internal Use Only

The outgoing handover preparation success rate for each handover pair measures the hando
ver preparation from the serving cell to a certain neighbor cell. Here are two typical examples:

In the event of the handover from cell A to cell B, the Intra-eNodeB Intra-freq Outgoing
Handover Preparation Success Rate per Cell pair is measured in cell A.

In the event of the handover from cell B to cell A, the Intra-eNodeB Intra-freq Outgoing
Handover Preparation Success Rate per Cell pair is measured in cell B.

The outgoing handover success rate contains all outgoing handover preparation successes fr
om the serving cell to all neighbor cells.

The measurement of these two KPIs can facilitate us in sifting two cells that suffer most hando
ver preparation failures, performing neighbor cell optimization, and even deleting unusable nei
ghbor cells.

Intra-eNodeB Handover Success Rate

Internal Use Only

Description
The intra-eNodeB handover success rate measures the service continuity when a subscr
iber is on the move. This KPI is perceptible to the subscribers, depending on system han
dover processing capabilities and network planning.

Formulas

Intra-frequency handover success rate = Number of intra-frequency handover succes

ses / Number of intra-frequency handover requests * 100%

Inter-frequency handover success rate = Number of inter-frequency handover succes

ses / Number of inter-frequency handover requests * 100%

Intra-eNodeB Handover Success Rate

Note:
If the eNodeB receives the RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete message in step
4, it indicates that the handover is successful.
If the eNodeB receives the RRC Connection Reestablishment Request message in step
6, it indicates that the handover is unsuccessful.

Internal Use Only

Internal Use Only

Inter-eNodeB X2-Interface Handover Success Rate

Description
The inter-eNodeB X2-interface handover success rate measures the handover successes when the U
E moves between the eNodeBs over the X2 interface. This KPI is perceptible to the subscribers being
on the move, depending on system handover processing capabilities and network planning.

Formulas

Outgoing intra-frequency X2-interface handover success rate = Number of outgoing intra-freque

ncy X2-interface handover successes / Number of outgoing intra-frequency X2-interface handov
er attempts (serving cell) * 100%

Incoming intra-frequency X2-interface handover success rate = Number of incoming intra-freque

ncy X2-interface handover successes / Number of incoming intra-frequency X2-interface handov
er attempts (serving cell) * 100%

Outgoing inter-frequency X2-interface handover success rate = Number of outgoing inter-freque

ncy X2-interface handover successes / Number of outgoing inter-frequency X2-interface handov
er attempts (serving cell) * 100%

Incoming inter-frequency X2-interface handover success rate = Number of incoming inter-freque

ncy X2-interface handover successes / Number of incoming inter-frequency X2-interface handov
er attempts (serving cell) * 100%

Internal Use Only

Inter-eNodeB X2-Interface Handover Success Rate

Internal Use Only

Inter-eNodeB S1-Interface Handover Success Rate

Description
When the eNodeB decides to perform a handover according to the UE measurement report and me
anwhile the destination cell is not connected to the eNodeB through the X2 interface, the inter-eNod
eB S1-interface handover success rate measures the S1-interface handover performed through the
EPC. This KPI is perceptible to the subscribers being on the move, depending on system handover
processing capabilities and network planning.

Formulas

Outgoing intra-frequency S1-interface handover success rate = Number of outgoing intra-freque

ncy S1-interface handover successes / Number of outgoing intra-frequency S1-interface handov
er attempts (serving cell) * 100%

Incoming intra-frequency S1-interface handover success rate = Number of incoming intra-frequ

ency S1-interface handover successes / Number of incoming intra-frequency S1-interface hand
over attempts (serving cell) * 100%

Outgoing inter-frequency S1-interface handover success rate = Number of outgoing inter-frequ

ency S1-interface handover successes / Number of outgoing inter-frequency S1-interface hand
over attempts (serving cell) * 100%

Incoming inter-frequency S1-interface handover success rate = Number of incoming inter-frequ

ency S1-interface handover successes / Number of incoming inter-frequency S1-interface hand
over attempts (serving cell) * 100%

Internal Use Only

Inter-eNodeB S1-Interface Handover Success Rate

Inter-System Handover Success Rate

Internal Use Only

The inter-system handover success rate consists of both incoming and outgoing handover between the LTE network and th
e CDMA network, between the LTE network and the UMTS network, between the LTE network and the GSM network. This
example shows a handover from the CDMA network to the LTE network.

Internal Use Only

Availability
Availability

Important and
Demanding

Cell availability
Theoretical limit: 100%
Ideal value in a commercial network: > 99.995%

CellAvaila bility

measurement_period - RRU.CellUnavailableTime.[cause]

Dependency

cause

measurement _ period

Software + Hardware
Unavailable Time = Unplanned downtime only (excluding planned downtime)
Physical meaning
365 * 24 * 60 * (1-99.995%) = 26.28 min cell out-of-service time

100

Cell Availability

Internal Use Only

Description
The cell availability measures the ratio of in-service time to measurement granularity time. The inservice time indicates the time interval between cell establishment and cell deletion. By counting the
cell in-service time, this KPI forms a foundation for analyzing system failures and measuring system
stability.

Signaling Procedure

Formulas
Cell Availability = In-Service Time / Measurement Granularity Time
Cell Availability = C373230700 / Measurement Granularity Time * 100%

Internal Use Only

Integrity
UL/DL Packet Loss Rate

QCI

Priority

Packet
Latency
Budget
(NOTE1)

Packet
Error
Loss
Rate
(NOTE
2)

100 ms

10-2

Conversational Voice

150 ms

10-3

Conversational Video (Live Streaming)

3
(NOTE 3)

50 ms

10-3

Real Time Gaming

4
(NOTE 3)

300 ms

10-6

Non-Conversational Video (Buffered Streaming)

5
(NOTE 3)

100 ms

10-6

IMS Signalling

300 ms

10-6

Video (Buffered Streaming)

TCP-based (e.g., www, e-mail, chat, ftp, p2p file
sharing, progressive video, etc.)

100 ms

10-3

Voice,
Video (Live Streaming)
Interactive Gaming

300 ms

10-6

DL PDCP SDU Latency

Resour
ce
Type

1
(NOTE 3)
2
(NOTE 3)

GBR

6
(NOTE 4)
7
(NOTE 3)
8
(NOTE 5)

9
(NOTE 6)

NonGBR

Example Services

Video (Buffered Streaming)

TCP-based (e.g., www, e-mail, chat, ftp, p2p file
File sharing, progressive video, etc.

Downlink PDCP SDU Latency

Internal Use Only

Description
This KPI indicates average downlink PDCP SDU latency based on the QCI type, from the tim
e when a PDCP SDU reaches the eNodeB, to the time when the UE receives this PDCP SD
U, that is to say, all fragments of this PDCP SDU receives a successful HARQ response.

Signaling Procedure

Formula
Average Downlink PDCP SDU Latency = Total Latency of All PDCP SDUs / Number of All PD
CP SDUs

Downlink IP Packet Latency

Internal Use Only

Description
This KPI indicates average downlink IP packet latency, from the time when the eNodeB recei
ves the IP packet through the S1 or X2 interface, to the time when the first fragment of this I
P packet is transmitted by the eNodeB through the air interface. It measures the time interval
at which the service is processed by the eNodeB, which forms a strong foundation for networ
k optimization.

Signaling Procedure

Formula
Average Downlink IP Packet Latency (QCI 1 9) = Total Downlink IP Packet Latency (QCI 1
9 ) / Number of All PDCP SDUs (Downlink QCI 1 9)

Uplink/Downlink Packet Loss Rate

Description
This KPI measures the ratio of discarded PDCP SDUs to received PDCP SDUs
due to the timeout of the TimeDisCard timer, when no, partial, or all fragments are transmitted
through the eNodeB or air interface. It should be noted that PDCP SDUs vary
from QCI to QCI (1 9), from uplink to downlink.

Counters
Number of All PDCP SDUs
Uplink: When the PDCP layer of the eNodeB receives the PDCP SDU
from the UE, this counter is incremented by 1.
Downlink: When the PDCP layer of the eNodeB sends the PDCP SDU
to the RLC layer, this counter is incremented by 1.
Number of Discarded PDCP SDUs
Uplink: When the PDCP layer of the eNodeB receives the PDCP SDU
from the UE, the SN is not consecutive.
Downlink: When the PDCP layer of the eNodeB sends the PDCP SDU
to the RLC layer, the SN is not consecutive.

Formula
Air Interface or eNodeB Packet Loss Rate = Number of Discarded Packets
over the Air Interface or eNodeB / Number of All Packets over the Air Interface or eNodeB

Internal Use Only

Internal Use Only

Contents
Basic Knowledge of FDD LTE KPIs
FDD LTE eNodeB KPIs
FDD LTE Network KPIs
Other FDD LTE KPIs

Traffic Type - Number of RRC Connections

Internal Use Only

Description
This KPI counts the number of RRC connections, which is used to measure the UE access to the system for
call hold. It involves the following two counters:

Average number of RRC connections

Maximum number of RRC connections.

Signaling Procedure

When the eNodeB receives the RRC Establishment Complete message, the number of RRC connections
is incremented by 1.
When the eNodeB triggers the RRC establishment successfully due to the handover, the number of RRC
connections is incremented by 1.
When the eNodeB releases the RRC connection, the number of RRC connections is decremented by 1.
When the eNodeB reestablishes the RRC connection in another cell, the number of RRC connections is d
ecremented by 1.
When the eNodeB reestablishes the RRC connection back to the serving cell, the number of RRC connec
tions is incremented by 1.

Formulas

Maximum Number of RRC Connections (Sampling Counter)

Average Number of RRC Connections (Sampling Counter)

Internal Use Only

Traffic Type Average Number of QCI-Based UEs

Description
This KPI measures the average number of E-RAB connections, which evaluates network traffic. It s
hould be noted that this KPI varies from QCI to QCI.

Signaling Procedure (Sampling Counter)

Initial E-RAB establishment success

Added E-RAB establishment success

Incoming E-RAB handover success

Incoming E-RAB modification success (changing the new QCI to the old QCI)

Outgoing E-RAB handover success

Outgoing E-RAB modification success (changing the old QCI to the new QCI)

E-RAB release

Formula
This KPI is counted by averaging the measured values of all sampling points within a specific measu
rement cycle.

Internal Use Only

Traffic Type Number of Activated QCI-Based UEs

Description
This KPI counts the number of UEs in the cache during a specified time period. It can be
measured based on a specific QCI, uplink or downlink, average number or maximum nu
mber.
This KPI indicates the number of in-service UEs in the system, which forms a foundation
for evaluating system capacity and capabilities.

Signaling Procedure
N/A

Formula
This KPI is counted when any data is present in the E-RAB cache of QCI i every samplin
g cycle (100 ms), as defined in the 3GPP TS.

Internal Use Only

Resource Allocation
Cell & System Resources
(Category)

UL -C PRB Usage

DL -C PRB Usage

Total UL
PRB Usage

PDCCH Usage

UL -U PRB Usage

PRACH Usage

UL PRB Usage
per QCI

Paging
Congestion Rate

Total D L
PRB Usage

Avg CPU Load

DL -U PRB Usage

Avg DL
Transmission Power

DL PRB Usage
per QCI

Avg UL
Interference
Per PRB

PRACH
Propagation Delay

Avg DSP Load

PRACH
Message Load

Internal Use Only