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lte cell id calculator

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The LTE (Long-Term Evolution) cell ID is a unique identifier assigned to each cell in an LTE network. It helps in distinguishing and locating different cells within the network. The cell ID is a combination of the Tracking Area Code (TAC) and the E-UTRAN Cell ID (ECI). In LTE, each cell is identified by a unique pair of TAC and ECI.

Here's a technical breakdown of how the LTE cell ID is calculated:

  1. Tracking Area Code (TAC):
    • The Tracking Area Code is a 16-bit field that identifies a specific tracking area within the LTE network.
    • The TAC is broadcasted by the cell and is used by the mobile device to identify the tracking area it is currently in.
  2. E-UTRAN Cell ID (ECI):
    • The E-UTRAN Cell ID is a 28-bit field that uniquely identifies a cell within a tracking area.
    • The ECI is broadcasted by the cell and is used by the mobile device to identify the specific cell it is communicating with.
  3. Combining TAC and ECI to Form LTE Cell ID:
    • The LTE cell ID is formed by concatenating the TAC and ECI.
    • The TAC and ECI are combined in a specific order, and the resulting bit sequence forms the LTE cell ID.
    • The total bit length of the LTE cell ID is 44 bits (16 bits for TAC + 28 bits for ECI).
  4. Binary Representation:
    • Both TAC and ECI are typically represented in binary format.
    • The TAC is represented using 16 bits, and the ECI is represented using 28 bits.
    • When combined, the TAC and ECI form a 44-bit binary sequence that uniquely identifies the LTE cell.
  5. Hexadecimal Representation:
    • The binary LTE cell ID can be converted into a hexadecimal representation for convenience.
    • The resulting hexadecimal value is often used for human-readable presentation and storage.

Here's a simple formula to represent the concatenation of TAC and ECI:

scssCopy codeLTE Cell ID = TAC (16 bits) + ECI (28 bits)


The LTE cell ID is a unique identifier for each cell in an LTE network, formed by concatenating the Tracking Area Code (TAC) and the E-UTRAN Cell ID (ECI). This identifier is crucial for mobile devices to locate and communicate with the specific cell within the network.