The RSRP is comparable to the CPICH RSCP measurement in WCDMA. This
measurement of the signal strength of an LTE cell helps to rank between the different
cells as input for handover and cell reselection decisions. The RSRP is the average of
the power of all resource elements which carry cell-specific reference signals over the
entire bandwidth. It can therefore only be measured in the OFDM symbols carrying
reference symbols.
The RSRQ measurement provides additional information when RSRP is not sufficient
to make a reliable handover or cell reselection decision. RSRQ is the ratio between the
RSRP and the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), and depending on the
measurement bandwidth, means the number of resource blocks. RSSI is the total
received wideband power including all interference and thermal noise. As RSRQ
combines signal strength as well as interference level, this measurement value
provides additional help for mobility decisions.
