A broadband communication system provides broadband communication services onboard an aircraft. The broadband communication system includes a satellite communication transceiver, a direct air-to-ground communication (DA2GC) transceiver, and a controller. The satellite communication transceiver is configured to communicate directly with a target satellite providing a satellite communication data pathway with a satellite ground station connected to ground networks. The DA2GC transceiver is configured to communicate directly with a DA2GC ground station providing an DA2GC data pathway with the ground networks. The controller is configured to control handoff between the satellite communication transceiver and the DA2GC transceiver for data communications between the broadband communications system and the ground networks, based on performance of at least one of the satellite communication data pathway and the DA2GC data pathway.

Disclosed is a method performed by a first base station (10) of a wireless communications network. The first base station (10) provides radio coverage to a first cell (20). The wireless communications network further comprises a second base station providing radio coverage to a second cell (40). A wireless device (50, 60), is located within the first cell (20) and is connected to the first base station (10). The method comprises receiving (202) a message from the WD (50, 60) indicating the second cell, obtaining (204) an indication of an altitude of the access point of the second base station (30), obtaining (206) an indication of an altitude of the WD (50, 60), and obtaining (208) an indication of an altitude of the access point of the first base station (10). The method further comprises handling (210) a connection of the WD (50, 60) to the first base station (10) based on the altitude indications.

Disclosed is a method performed by a first base station (10) of a wireless communications network. The first base station (10) provides radio coverage to a first cell (20). The wireless communications network further comprises a second base station providing radio coverage to a second cell (40). A wireless device (50, 60), is located within the first cell (20) and is connected to the first base station (10). The method comprises receiving (202) a message from the WD (50, 60) indicating the second cell, obtaining (204) an indication of an altitude of the access point of the second base station (30), obtaining (206) an indication of an altitude of the WD (50, 60), and obtaining (208) an indication of an altitude of the access point of the first base station (10). The method further comprises handling (210) a connection of the WD (50, 60) to the first base station (10) based on the altitude indications.

This application discloses a load relocation method, apparatus, and a system. The method includes determining, by a communications network entity, a target access management entity for load relocation; and sending, to an access network entity, an identifier of an original access management entity and an identifier of the target access management entity or an address of the target access management entity with respect to the access network entity. The access network entity sends a message from a user equipment (UE) to the target access management entity based on the identifier of the original access management entity carried in the message from the UE. In the foregoing solution, signaling overheads in a load relocation process are reduced and load relocation efficiency is improved.

This application discloses a load relocation method, apparatus, and a system. The method includes determining, by a communications network entity, a target access management entity for load relocation; and sending, to an access network entity, an identifier of an original access management entity and an identifier of the target access management entity or an address of the target access management entity with respect to the access network entity. The access network entity sends a message from a user equipment (UE) to the target access management entity based on the identifier of the original access management entity carried in the message from the UE. In the foregoing solution, signaling overheads in a load relocation process are reduced and load relocation efficiency is improved.

This application discloses a handover method to hand over relay UE and remote UE between different eNBs. The handover method includes: a source eNB determines based on a measurement report of the relay UE, to hand over the relay UE to a target eNB; sends a first handover required message to a source MME of the relay UE and sends a second handover required message to a source MME of the remote UE; the source MME sends a mobility management context of the remote UE and a mobility management context of the relay UE to a target MME to which the target eNB belongs; the target MME receives a redirection request message from the source MME; and sends information about the remote UE and information about the relay UE to the target eNB.

A method performed by a source Radio Network Controller (RNC) for handling a relocation of a User Equipment (UE) connection from the source RNC to a target RNC to serve the UE in an ongoing wireless communication is provided. An interface between the source RNC and the target RNC is available. When all radio links in the ongoing wireless communication are controlled by the target RNC and a triggering condition is fulfilled for relocation of the UE connection from the source RNC to the target RNC, the source RNC decides (202) to discontinue to use said interface. Then a core network is used for sending (204) to the target RNC, a triggering of the relocation procedure for relocating the source RNC to the target RNC to serve the UE. A Radio Resource Control (RRC) configuration defined by the target RNC to be used after the relocation to the target RNC is then obtained (205) via the core network. The RRC configuration, defined by the target RNC, is sent (206) to the UE enabling the UE to switch from an RRC configuration defined by the source RNC to the RRC configuration defined by the target RNC.

A method performed by a source Radio Network Controller (RNC) for handling a relocation of a User Equipment (UE) connection from the source RNC to a target RNC to serve the UE in an ongoing wireless communication is provided. An interface between the source RNC and the target RNC is available. When all radio links in the ongoing wireless communication are controlled by the target RNC and a triggering condition is fulfilled for relocation of the UE connection from the source RNC to the target RNC, the source RNC decides (202) to discontinue to use said interface. Then a core network is used for sending (204) to the target RNC, a triggering of the relocation procedure for relocating the source RNC to the target RNC to serve the UE. A Radio Resource Control (RRC) configuration defined by the target RNC to be used after the relocation to the target RNC is then obtained (205) via the core network. The RRC configuration, defined by the target RNC, is sent (206) to the UE enabling the UE to switch from an RRC configuration defined by the source RNC to the RRC configuration defined by the target RNC.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for a wireless device avoiding reselection or handover to cells of different operators. The wireless device may attach to a first base station of a first network operator. The wireless device may determine that a neighboring base station is associated with a second network operator. Based on determining the neighboring base station is associated with the second network operator, the wireless device may exclude the third base station from handover or reselection.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for a wireless device avoiding reselection or handover to cells of different operators. The wireless device may attach to a first base station of a first network operator. The wireless device may determine that a neighboring base station is associated with a second network operator. Based on determining the neighboring base station is associated with the second network operator, the wireless device may exclude the third base station from handover or reselection.