EN-DC (5G NSA) Combined Throughput Calculator
Add the LTE anchor rate to the NR secondary cell.
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EN-DC (5G NSA) Combined Throughput Calculator by TheCalcTools
How the EN-DC (5G NSA) Combined Throughput Calculator works
Enter the LTE anchor’s bandwidth, modulation and layers.
Enter the NR carrier’s bandwidth, layers, modulation and TDD downlink share.
In EN-DC the UE aggregates the LTE master cell group and the NR secondary cell group, so the rates add.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| LTE anchor bandwidth | 20 MHz (100 PRB) |
|---|---|
| LTE modulation | 256QAM |
| LTE MIMO layers | 2 |
| NR bandwidth | 30 kHz, 100 MHz (273 PRB) |
| NR MIMO layers | 4 |
| NR modulation | 256QAM |
| NR downlink share (TDD) | 74 % |
| Real-world efficiency vs. peak (%) | 100 % |
- LTE anchor (20 MHz, 256QAM, 2×2) ≈ 171 Mbps.
- NR (100 MHz, 4×4, 256QAM, 74% DL) ≈ 1,729 Mbps.
- Combined ≈ 1,901 Mbps; NR provides 91%.
Result:
| LTE anchor (Mbps) | 171 |
|---|---|
| NR carrier (Mbps) | 1,729 |
| Combined EN-DC (Mbps) | 1,901 |
| NR share of the total | 91% |
Frequently asked questions
Why is NSA throughput not just the NR rate?
In NSA the LTE anchor carries signalling and can also carry user data. The UE aggregates both, as long as the split bearer and UE capability allow.
What limits real EN-DC throughput?
Uplink coverage, SINR, UE power sharing between LTE and NR, PDCP split thresholds, transport capacity and scheduler load.
Sources and further reading
- 3GPP TS 38.306: NR UE radio access capabilities
- 3GPP TS 36.211 / 36.213 / 36.101 (LTE)
- Wikipedia: 5G NR
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.