5G NR RSRQ Measurement Mapping
RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality) is the ratio of RSRP to the wideband received signal RSSI. It tells you how much of what the UE is receiving actually comes from the target cell versus interference.
In 5G NR, RSRQ is reported as an integer index in the range 0 to 127, mapped to a dB value per TS 38.133 §10.1.7. Resolution is 0.5 dB. The dB range spans -43 to +20.
Last verified 2026-04-15 against 3GPP TS 38.133 v18.3.0 §10.1.7 · Release 18
3GPP formula (TS 38.133 §10.1.7.1): RSRQ_dB = 0.5 * index - 43
RSRQ qualitative bands
| Quality | Range (dB) | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | >= -10 | Low interference, clean cell |
| Good | -10 to -15 | Moderate interference |
| Fair | -15 to -18 | Noticeable interference |
| Poor | -18 to -20 | Heavy interference or cell edge |
| Very poor | < -20 | Quality degraded, consider handover |
Capturing RSRQ on Android with HiCellTek
HiCellTek RF Monitor reads the serving cell SS-RSRQ and CSI-RSRQ in real time. The app shows the RSRQ alongside RSRP and SINR so you can spot interference patterns quickly. Exportable to Excel and CSV for post session analysis.
Frequently asked questions
What does RSRQ represent?
RSRQ is Reference Signal Received Quality, defined as the ratio of RSRP to the wideband received signal (RSSI). It reflects how much of what you receive comes from your target cell versus interference and noise.
How does RSRQ differ from SINR?
RSRQ compares your target RSRP to the full wideband power including interferers and noise. SINR compares the target signal to noise plus interference only. A good RSRP with poor RSRQ means high interference, not low signal.
What is the RSRQ reporting range in 5G NR?
Per TS 38.133 §10.1.7.1, SS-RSRQ and CSI-RSRQ reporting indices run from 0 to 127. The dB range is -43 to +20 in steps of 0.5 dB.
Is -12 dB a good RSRQ?
Yes, -12 dB is typically considered Good for outdoor macro FR1. Excellent starts around -10 dB and better. -15 dB to -18 dB is Fair, below -18 dB starts to be concerning for quality sensitive services.
Does RSRQ affect throughput directly?
Not directly. Throughput is driven by SINR and MCS. But a low RSRQ usually correlates with high interference which reduces SINR which reduces MCS which reduces throughput. It is an early warning indicator.
Can RSRQ be positive?
In theory yes, because the formula N * RSRP / RSSI can exceed unity if the denominator is mostly your own signal. But in practical networks, RSRQ rarely goes above -3 dB.