DRIVE TEST OVERVIEW
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1-PCI (Physical Cell Identity)
Physical Cell Identity is a unique identifier assigned to each cell in a cellular
network, such as LTE or 5G. It is used to identify the physical cell site and
distinguish it from other cells in the network.
PCI is typically a 3-digit value (0-503) and is broadcast by the cell via the
Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH). It is used by mobile devices to:
1. Identify the serving cell and neighboring cells
2. Perform handovers and cell reselection
3. Determine the cell's location and coverage
PCI is an important parameter in cellular networks, as it enables mobile
devices to connect to the correct cell and ensure seamless communication.
2-RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power)
• RSRP is a measure of the signal strength received by a mobile device from a cell in a cellular
network, such as LTE or 5G. It represents the power of the reference signals transmitted by
the cell and received by the device.
• RSRP is measured in decibel milliwatts (dBm) and is always a negative value. The closer the
value is to 0, the stronger the signal.
• Here are some general guidelines for interpreting RSRP values:
- Excellent signal strength: RSRP ≥ -80 dBm
- Good signal strength: -80 dBm > RSRP ≥ -90 dBm
- Fair signal strength: -90 dBm > RSRP ≥ -100 dBm
- Poor signal strength: -100 dBm > RSRP ≥ -110 dBm
- Very poor signal strength: RSRP < -110 dBm
3-RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality)
• RSRQ is a measure of the quality of the reference signals received by a mobile device from
a cell in a cellular network
• Here are some general guidelines for interpreting RSRQ values:
- Good quality: RSRQ ≥ -5 Db
- Fair quality: -10 dB ≤ RSRQ < -5 dB
- Poor quality: -15 dB ≤ RSRQ < -10 dB
- Very poor quality: RSRQ < -15 dB
4-SINR (Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio)
• SINR is typically expressed in decibels (dB) and is a key performance indicator (KPI) in
wireless communication systems
• SINR takes into both the signal strength and the level of interference and noise present in
the system.
• A higher SINR value indicates a better signal quality, while a lower value indicates a poorer
signal quality.
• Here are some general guidelines for interpreting SINR values:
- Good signal quality: SINR ≥ 10 dB
- Fair signal quality: 5 dB ≤ SINR < 10 dB
- Poor signal quality: 0 dB ≤ SINR < 5 dB
- Very poor signal quality: SINR < 0 dB
4-HANDOVER
• Handover in LTE (Long-Term Evolution) is the process of transferring a mobile device's
connection from one cell to another while maintaining continuity of service.
• There are several types of handovers in LTE:
- Intra-LTE handover: Handover between two LTE cells within the same network or cell
- Inter-LTE handover: Handover between two LTE cells in different networks or cell
5-CSFB (Circuit-Switched FallBack)
• CSFB (Circuit-Switched FallBack) is a technology used in LTE networks to enable voice calls
and SMS services over the circuit-switched domain of the network. It allows LTE devices to fall
back to a 2G or 3G network for voice calls when the LTE network does not support voice
services.
• Here's how CSFB works:
-If the LTE network does not support voice services, the device falls back to a 2G or 3G network.
-The device establishes a circuit-switched connection with the 2G or 3G network. The voice call
is then transmitted over the circuit-switched network.
CSFB is used in LTE networks because LTE is a packet-switched technology, which is not
optimized for voice services
6-Fast Return to LTE (FRLTE)
FRLTE is a feature in wireless communication networks that enables a quick return to LTE (Long-
Term Evolution) connectivity after a device has been switched to a different radio access
technology (RAT), such as UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) or GSM (Global
System for Mobile Communications).
6-SRVCC (Single Radio Voice Call Continuity)
• SRVCC (Single Radio Voice Call Continuity) is a technology that enables a seamless
handover of voice calls from an LTE network to a 2G or 3G network, and vice versa, without
interrupting the call. This ensures that voice calls remain connected even when a user
moves from an LTE coverage area to an area with only 2G or 3G coverage, or vice versa.
• SRVCC is valuable because it:
- Ensures call continuity: SRVCC maintains the call connection even when the user moves
between different network technologies.
- Prevents call drops: SRVCC eliminates the risk of call drops due to handovers between
networks.
- Provides a seamless user experience: SRVCC ensures that users do not experience any
interruption or degradation in call quality during handovers.
- Supports voice call quality: SRVCC maintains the quality of voice calls, even when
handovers occur.
7-PSHO (Packet Switched HandOver)
• PSHO (Packet Switched HandOver) is a technology used in mobile networks to
handover voice calls and data from one network to another in packet-switched
networks, while maintaining the call and data continuity.
• PSHO is essential for voice calls and data that originate in LTE networks and need to
be handed over to 2G/3G networks, and vice versa.