Understanding Network KPIs with Detailed Sub-KPIs & Real-Life Examples

In the telecom industry, Network KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are crucial for ensuring seamless connectivity and an optimal user experience. These KPIs are further divided into sub-KPIs, which provide deeper insights into network performance. Let’s explore these KPIs, their sub-KPIs, and real-life examples.


:one: Availability – “Is the network always available?”

:pushpin: Key Sub-KPIs:
:heavy_check_mark: Network Uptime % – Percentage of time the network is operational.
:heavy_check_mark: Site Downtime – Duration for which a site remains non-functional.
:heavy_check_mark: Backhaul Availability – Stability of fiber or microwave links connecting sites.
:heavy_check_mark: Power Availability – Site uptime based on power source (grid, battery, or generator).

:pushpin: Real-Life Example:
You arrive at an airport and try booking a cab, but your phone shows “No Service”—this indicates a network outage due to a power failure or fiber cut. A reliable network should have 99.99% uptime.


:two: Accessibility – “Can users access the network?”

:pushpin: Key Sub-KPIs:
:heavy_check_mark: Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR) – Percentage of successful call attempts.
:heavy_check_mark: RACH Success Rate – Successful random access attempts for network connection.
:heavy_check_mark: RRC Connection Setup Success Rate – Success rate of radio resource control (RRC) connections.
:heavy_check_mark: Paging Success Rate – How well the network finds a user when receiving a call or message.
:heavy_check_mark: S1 Signaling Success Rate – Success rate of UE connection to the core network.

:pushpin: Real-Life Example:
If you dial a number and it takes multiple attempts before connecting, it indicates a low CSSR due to network congestion or coverage issues. A well-optimized network should have CSSR > 98%.


:three: Integrity – “How good is the network quality?”

:pushpin: Key Sub-KPIs:
:heavy_check_mark: Call Drop Rate (CDR) – Percentage of calls terminated unexpectedly.
:heavy_check_mark: Mute Call Rate – Percentage of calls where no voice is heard.
:heavy_check_mark: Block Error Rate (BLER) – Percentage of corrupted data packets.
:heavy_check_mark: Packet Loss – Loss of data packets during transmission.
:heavy_check_mark: MOS (Mean Opinion Score) – Voice call quality rating from 1 to 5.

:pushpin: Real-Life Example:
You’re on an important call, but the voice keeps breaking or going silent. This happens due to high BLER or mute calls, impacting voice clarity. A well-optimized network should maintain CDR < 1% and MOS > 4.0.


:four: Stability – “Is network performance consistent?”

:pushpin: Key Sub-KPIs:
:heavy_check_mark: Latency – Time delay in sending/receiving data packets.
:heavy_check_mark: Jitter – Variation in packet arrival time.
:heavy_check_mark: Packet Loss Rate – Percentage of lost packets during transmission.
:heavy_check_mark: Throughput Variability – Changes in data speeds over time.

:pushpin: Real-Life Example:
If you’re on a video call, and it lags or freezes, high latency or jitter is causing an unstable connection. For a smooth experience, Jitter should be < 30ms and Latency < 50ms.

:five: Mobility – “Can users stay connected while moving?”

:pushpin: Key Sub-KPIs:
:heavy_check_mark: Handover Success Rate (HOSR) – Percentage of successful cell handovers.
:heavy_check_mark: Inter-Frequency Handover Rate – Handover between different frequency bands (e.g., 1800 MHz to 2300 MHz).
:heavy_check_mark: Intra-Frequency Handover Rate – Handover within the same frequency band.
:heavy_check_mark: Call Drop During Handover – Calls dropped while switching between cells.

:pushpin: Real-Life Example:
You’re on a highway in a moving car, and suddenly your call drops. This happens due to handover failure. A good network should maintain HOSR > 98%.


:six: Capacity – “Can the network handle high user load?”

:pushpin: Key Sub-KPIs:
:heavy_check_mark: PRB Utilization – Percentage of resource blocks used.
:heavy_check_mark: RRC Connected Users – Number of active users connected to a site.
:heavy_check_mark: CPU Load & Memory Utilization – Processing capacity of network nodes.
:heavy_check_mark: Paging Load – Volume of paging messages sent to locate users.

:pushpin: Real-Life Example:
You’re in a stadium with thousands of people trying to use the internet. If data speeds slow down, it means the network capacity is overloaded. Proper capacity planning ensures optimal performance.


:seven: Coverage – “How far and strong is the network?”

:pushpin: Key Sub-KPIs:
:heavy_check_mark: RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) – Signal strength received by the user.
:heavy_check_mark: SINR (Signal-to-Interference-Noise Ratio) – Signal quality based on interference.
:heavy_check_mark: TA (Timing Advance) – Distance between user and tower affecting coverage.
:heavy_check_mark: Indoor vs. Outdoor Coverage – Signal strength in buildings compared to open areas.

:pushpin: Real-Life Example:
If you enter a basement parking lot and your phone loses network, the RSRP is too low due to weak indoor coverage. A strong network should maintain RSRP > -90 dBm and SINR > 10 dB.


:eight: Latency – “How fast does data travel?”

:pushpin: Key Sub-KPIs:
:heavy_check_mark: Round Trip Time (RTT) – Time for a data packet to travel and return.
:heavy_check_mark: Ping Response Time – Delay in response time from a server.
:heavy_check_mark: Edge vs. Core Latency – Difference in latency near towers vs. deep in the network.

:pushpin: Real-Life Example:
If you’re playing an online game, but there’s a delay between your action and response, high latency is the issue. For 5G, latency should be < 10ms, while 4G should be < 50ms.


:nine: Throughput – “How fast is the internet?”

:pushpin: Key Sub-KPIs:
:heavy_check_mark: Download Throughput – Maximum achievable download speed.
:heavy_check_mark: Upload Throughput – Maximum achievable upload speed.
:heavy_check_mark: TCP vs. UDP Throughput – Difference in speed based on protocol.
:heavy_check_mark: User Experience Speed – Real-world download speeds vs. theoretical speeds.

:pushpin: Real-Life Example:
If you’re downloading a 1GB file and it takes just 5 seconds, your network throughput is high. But if it takes minutes, network congestion is affecting speed. 5G aims for 1 Gbps+, while 4G provides 20-100 Mbps.

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