What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the 5G Core network's performance?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are crucial metrics used to assess the performance of the 5G Core network. These KPIs help network operators and administrators understand how well the network is functioning and whether it meets the desired quality of service standards. Here are some key technical KPIs used to evaluate the performance of the 5G Core network:

  1. Latency:
    • Round-Trip Time (RTT): Measures the time taken for a signal to travel from the source to the destination and back.
    • User Plane Latency: Evaluates the time it takes for user data to traverse the 5G network.
  2. Throughput:
    • Data Rate: Measures the amount of data transferred over the network per unit of time.
    • Peak Throughput: Indicates the maximum data rate achievable under optimal conditions.
  3. Reliability:
    • Packet Loss Rate: Measures the percentage of packets lost during transmission, indicating the reliability of data delivery.
    • Availability: Assesses the percentage of time the network is operational and accessible.
  4. Connection Density:
    • Device Density: Evaluates the number of devices that can be simultaneously connected to the 5G network within a specific area.
  5. Mobility:
    • Handover Success Rate: Measures the efficiency of the handover process as devices move between different cells or network nodes.
    • Interference Management: Assesses the network's ability to handle interference caused by mobility or other external factors.
  6. Resource Utilization:
    • Network Resource Utilization: Monitors the usage of network resources such as bandwidth, CPU, and memory to ensure optimal performance.
    • Spectrum Efficiency: Measures how efficiently the available radio frequency spectrum is used to transmit data.
  7. Quality of Service (QoS):
    • Service Availability: Ensures that network services are available and accessible to users as per the defined service level agreements (SLAs).
    • Packet Delay Variation (PDV): Measures the variation in packet delay to ensure consistent and predictable communication.
  8. Security:
    • Security Incident Rate: Monitors the frequency of security incidents, including breaches and attacks.
    • Authentication and Encryption Performance: Assesses the effectiveness of authentication and encryption mechanisms in safeguarding user data.
  9. Energy Efficiency:
    • Power Consumption: Measures the amount of power consumed by the network infrastructure to transmit and process data.
  10. Service Specific KPIs:
    • Streaming Quality: For video and audio streaming services, KPIs might include buffering time, resolution, and audio/video synchronization.
    • Gaming Experience: For gaming applications, KPIs may include latency, jitter, and packet loss specific to gaming traffic.
  11. End-to-End KPIs:
    • End-to-End Delay: Measures the total delay experienced by a packet from the source to the destination.