Capacity increase in cellular radio networks using existing base station sites

A network feature in the form of an intra-cell handover (HO) algorithm is introduced to increase the capacity in digital cellular radio networks using existing `Macro´-Base Station (BTS) sites. Capacity gain is obtained since the HO, which is triggered by the carrier to interference (C/I) level, dynamically allocates traffic thus enables a more efficient utilisation of radio channels than currently possible in ordinary networks. The theoretical principles on which the feature is based are presented. In addition simulations utilising data from a GSM network and results obtained from a trial in an actual radio network are also shown