LTE Cell Capacity Calculator
Estimate LTE cell and site throughput from channel bandwidth, spectral efficiency and MIMO layers.
Inputs
Cell Throughput
64.0Mbps
Site Throughput
192.0Mbps
Throughput at Planned Load
134.4Mbps
Concurrent Active Users Supported
26
Step by step
Values used
Channel bandwidth = 20 MHz; Average spectral efficiency = 1.60 bps/Hz; MIMO layers = 2 layers; Sectors per site = 3 sectors; Planned cell load = 70 %; Throughput promised per active user = 5 Mbps
LTE Cell Capacity
cell throughput = bandwidth (MHz) × spectral efficiency (bps/Hz) × MIMO layers; site = cell × sectors.
Cell Throughput
= 64.0 Mbps
Site Throughput
= 192.0 Mbps
Throughput at Planned Load
= 134.4 Mbps
Concurrent Active Users Supported
= 26
How it works
Spectral efficiency already folds in modulation, coding and typical channel conditions, so multiplying it by the channel bandwidth gives a realistic cell rate rather than a marketing peak. MIMO layers multiply that, and the planned-load factor keeps the design off the congestion knee. Radio capacity, not backhaul, is usually the binding constraint on a cell site, and knowing the honest number tells you whether to add carriers, sectors or a whole new site.
Formula
LTE Cell Capacity
cell throughput = bandwidth (MHz) × spectral efficiency (bps/Hz) × MIMO layers; site = cell × sectors.
- spectral efficiency
- Average bits per second per Hertz across the cell
- layers
- Spatial streams the cell can sustain
Frequently Asked Questions
How is LTE Cell Capacity calculated?
cell throughput = bandwidth (MHz) × spectral efficiency (bps/Hz) × MIMO layers; site = cell × sectors. Spectral efficiency already folds in modulation, coding and typical channel conditions, so multiplying it by the channel bandwidth gives a realistic cell rate rather than a marketing peak. MIMO layers multiply that, and the planned-load factor keeps the design off the congestion knee.
Why does LTE Cell Capacity matter?
Radio capacity, not backhaul, is usually the binding constraint on a cell site, and knowing the honest number tells you whether to add carriers, sectors or a whole new site.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 6 inputs: Channel bandwidth, Average spectral efficiency, MIMO layers, Sectors per site, Planned cell load, Throughput promised per active user. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.