5G NR Throughput Calculator

Calculate the theoretical maximum throughput for 5G New Radio (NR) networks based on key parameters.

Bandwidth (MHz): 5 MHz 10 MHz 15 MHz 20 MHz 25 MHz 30 MHz 40 MHz 50 MHz 60 MHz 80 MHz 90 MHz 100 MHz 200 MHz 400 MHz

Subcarrier Spacing (kHz): 15 kHz 30 kHz 60 kHz 120 kHz 240 kHz

MIMO Layers: 1 (SISO) 2 4 8 16 32 64

Modulation: QPSK (2 bits/symbol) 16-QAM (4 bits/symbol) 64-QAM (6 bits/symbol) 256-QAM (8 bits/symbol) 1024-QAM (10 bits/symbol)

Coding Rate: 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0

Overhead (%):

Results:

Physical Layer Throughput: 0 Mbps

Application Layer Throughput: 0 Mbps

Understanding 5G NR Throughput Calculations

5G New Radio (NR) technology delivers significantly higher data rates compared to previous generations. This calculator helps you estimate the theoretical maximum throughput based on key network parameters.

Key Factors Affecting 5G NR Throughput

1. Bandwidth: 5G NR supports much wider channel bandwidths than LTE, up to 400 MHz in FR2 (mmWave) bands. Wider bandwidth means more resource blocks and higher throughput.

2. Subcarrier Spacing (SCS): 5G introduces flexible numerology with different subcarrier spacings (15, 30, 60, 120, 240 kHz). Higher SCS allows for more slots per subframe but reduces symbol duration.

3. MIMO Layers: Massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology enables spatial multiplexing with multiple data streams. More layers mean higher throughput.

4. Modulation Scheme: Higher order modulation (like 1024-QAM) carries more bits per symbol but requires better signal conditions.

5. Coding Rate: This represents the proportion of useful information bits in the total transmitted bits. Higher coding rates mean more efficient transmission.

6. Overhead: Includes control signals, reference signals, and other non-data transmissions that reduce available capacity.

Practical 5G Throughput Examples

In real-world deployments, typical 5G throughput varies:

• Sub-6 GHz (FR1): 100-500 Mbps with 100 MHz bandwidth, 4x4 MIMO
• mmWave (FR2): 1-4 Gbps with 400 MHz bandwidth, 8x8 MIMO

Actual speeds depend on network configuration, signal quality, and user density.

Optimizing 5G Network Performance

Network operators can maximize throughput by:

1. Utilizing wider channel bandwidths where available
2. Deploying advanced antenna systems with massive MIMO
3. Implementing higher order modulation in good signal conditions
4. Minimizing overhead through efficient frame structure design
5. Using carrier aggregation to combine multiple channels

5G NR Throughput Calculator FAQs

What is the maximum theoretical throughput of 5G NR?

The maximum theoretical throughput depends on configuration. With 400 MHz bandwidth, 64 MIMO layers, 1024-QAM, and 0.9 coding rate, it can exceed 20 Gbps.

How does 5G throughput compare to 4G LTE?

5G NR can provide 10-100x higher throughput than LTE, thanks to wider bandwidth, massive MIMO, and more efficient modulation.

Why is actual throughput lower than theoretical maximum?

Real-world factors like signal interference, user mobility, network congestion, and implementation overhead reduce achievable throughput.