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RSRQ Reference Symbol Received Quality

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RSRQ stands for Reference Signal Received Quality and is a metric used in Long Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G networks to measure the quality of the received reference signals. It provides information about the signal quality and interference levels in the network.

Reference signals are periodic signals transmitted by the base station (eNodeB in LTE or gNodeB in 5G) in the downlink direction. These signals are used by the mobile devices (UEs) to estimate channel conditions, perform cell selection, and measure the quality of the received signal.

RSRQ is calculated based on the power levels of the reference signals and the power levels of the neighboring cells. It represents the ratio between the received power of the reference signals and the total received power including the reference signals and the interference from neighboring cells.

The formula to calculate RSRQ is:

RSRQ = N × RSRP / RSRQmeas

where:

  • N is the number of resource blocks (RBs) carrying reference signals.
  • RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) is the received power of the reference signals.
  • RSRQmeas is the total received power including the reference signals and the interference from neighboring cells.

RSRP represents the received power of the reference signals and is a related metric to RSRQ. It provides information about the overall received power level from the serving cell. RSRQ, on the other hand, takes into account the interference from neighboring cells as well.

The RSRQ value is reported by the UE to the network, allowing the network to assess the quality of the received signal and make decisions regarding cell selection, handover, and resource allocation. A higher RSRQ value indicates better signal quality and lower interference, while a lower RSRQ value suggests poorer signal quality and higher interference.

RSRQ values typically range from -19.5 dB to -3 dB. Higher negative values indicate weaker signal quality, while values closer to zero represent better signal quality. Network operators and engineers monitor RSRQ measurements to ensure optimal network performance and coverage.

In summary, RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality) is a metric used in LTE and 5G networks to assess the quality of received reference signals. It provides information about the signal quality and interference levels, taking into account the power levels of the reference signals and the interference from neighboring cells.