Method for controlling call capacity in a mobile network

1 . A computer implemented method for controlling call capacity in a mobile network, the method comprising:

activating a mass event mode in a first cell of a first base station, wherein the first cell is a high frequency band cell, and wherein operating in the mass event mode comprises:

checking if any low frequency band cells are available in a first sector served by the first cell; and

responsive to detecting that one or more low frequency band cells are available, switching, at least some, voice call connections of users of the first cell to at least some of the available low frequency band cells, wherein the first cell uses 4G or 5G technology and checking if any low frequency band cells are available in the first sector served by the first cell comprises:

checking if any VoLTE and/or VoNR capable low frequency band cells are available in the first sector and responsive to detecting that one or more VoLTE and/or VoNR capable low frequency band cells are available, the switching of at least some voice call connections of the users of the first cell to at least some of the available low frequency band cells comprises:

responsive to detecting that one or more VoLTE and/or VoNR capable low frequency band cells are available, switching, at least some, voice call connections to VoLTE and/or VoNR connections of the low frequency band cells; or

optionally switching a first part of the voice call connections of the first cell to VoLTE and/or VoNR connections of the available low frequency band cells and a second part of the voice call connections of the first cell to one or more 2G cells.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the low frequency band comprises frequencies below or equal to 1000 MHz, and the high frequency band comprises frequencies over 1000 MHz.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the low frequency band comprises frequencies 700-900 MHZ, and the high frequency band comprises frequencies equal to or over 1800 MHZ.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein

checking if any low frequency band cells are available in the first sector served by the first cell comprises:

checking how many 3G cells are available in the first sector;

responsive to detecting that one or more low frequency band cells are available, switching, at least some, voice call connections of the users of the first cell to at least some of the available low frequency band cells comprises:

responsive to detecting that two or more 3G cell are available, switching, at least some, voice call connections of the users of the first cell to at least some of the available 3G cells; and

responsive to detecting that less than two 3G cells are available, switching voice call connections of the users of the first cell to 2G cells; or

optionally switching a first part of the voice call connections of the first cell to the available 3G cells and a second part of the voice call connections of the first cell to 2G cells.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein switching voice call connections of the users of the first cell to 2G cells comprises:

checking available 2G cell capacity in the first sector; and

responsive to detecting that no 2G cells are available, increasing 2G cell capacity by adding at least one transceiver unit prior to switching voice call connections of the users of the first cell to 2G cells.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the voice call connections are switched to the available 2G cells only if at least 2 or 3 or 4 2G cells are available.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

disabling inter system handover of voice call connections from 2G technology to other technologies when operating in the mass event mode; and/or

disabling inter system handover of voice call connections from 2G technology to 3G technology when operating in the mass event mode; and/or

disabling inter system handover of voice call connections from 3G technology to 4G and/or 5G technologies when operating in the mass event mode.

8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein switching voice call connections of the users of the first cell to 2G cells comprises:

checking available 2G cell capacity in the first sector; and

responsive to detecting that no 2G cells are available, increasing 2G cell capacity by adding at least one transceiver unit prior to switching voice call connections of the users of the first cell to 2G cells.

9 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the voice call connections are switched to the available 2G cells only if at least 2 or 3 or 4 2G cells are available.

10 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

disabling inter system handover of voice call connections from 2G technology to other technologies when operating in the mass event mode; and/or

disabling inter system handover of voice call connections from 2G technology to 3G technology when operating in the mass event mode; and/or

disabling inter system handover of voice call connections from 3G technology to 4G and/or 5G technologies when operating in the mass event mode.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in response to activating the mass event mode in the first cell, activating a mass event mode also in:

other high frequency band cells of the first base station; and/or

high frequency band cells of neighbouring base stations; and/or

high frequency band cells serving a selected area; and/or

high frequency band cells of base stations in a selected area.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mass event mode is activated in response to detecting that:

a count of users of the first cell exceeds a pre-set activation threshold;

a pre-set activation time occurs; or

a mass event mode is activated in a nearby cell.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the pre-set activation threshold is 100-500.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mass event mode is deactivated in response to detecting that:

the count of users in the first cell subceeds a pre-set deactivation threshold for a pre-set duration; or

a pre-set termination time occurs.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the pre-set deactivation threshold is smaller than or equal to the pre-set activation threshold and the pre-set duration is 0.5-2 days.

16 . An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including computer program code; the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus

to activate a mass event mode in a first cell of a first base station, wherein the first cell is a high frequency band cell, and wherein operating in the mass event mode comprises:

to check if any low frequency band cells are available in a first sector served by the first cell; and

responsive to detecting that one or more low frequency band cells are available, to switch, at least some, voice call connections of users of the first cell to at least some of the available low frequency band cells, wherein the first cell uses 4G or 5G technology and checking if any low frequency band cells are available in the first sector served by the first cell comprises:

checking if any VoLTE and/or VoNR capable low frequency band cells are available in the first sector and responsive to detecting that one or more VoLTE and/or VoNR capable low frequency band cells are available, the switching of at least some voice call connections of the users of the first cell to at least some of the available low frequency band cells comprises:

responsive to detecting that one or more VoLTE and/or VoNR capable low frequency band cells are available, switching, at least some, voice call connections to VoLTE and/or VoNR connections of the low frequency band cells; or

optionally switching a first part of the voice call connections of the first cell to VoLTE and/or VoNR connections of the available low frequency band cells and a second part of the voice call connections of the first cell to one or more 2G cells.

17 . A computer program comprising computer executable program code on a non-transitory computer readable medium which when executed by a processor causes an apparatus to perform:

activating a mass event mode in a first cell of a first base station, wherein the first cell is a high frequency band cell, and wherein operating in the mass event mode comprises:

checking if any low frequency band cells are available in a first sector served by the first cell; and

responsive to detecting that one or more low frequency band cells are available, switching, at least some, voice call connections of users of the first cell to at least some of the available low frequency band cells, wherein the first cell uses 4G or 5G technology and checking if any low frequency band cells are available in the first sector served by the first cell comprises:

checking if any VoLTE and/or VoNR capable low frequency band cells are available in the first sector and responsive to detecting that one or more VoLTE and/or VoNR capable low frequency band cells are available, the switching of at least some voice call connections of the users of the first cell to at least some of the available low frequency band cells comprises:

responsive to detecting that one or more VoLTE and/or VoNR capable low frequency band cells are available, switching, at least some, voice call connections to VoLTE and/or VoNR connections of the low frequency band cells; or

optionally switching a first part of the voice call connections of the first cell to VoLTE and/or VoNR connections of the available low frequency band cells and a second part of the voice call connections of the first cell to one or more 2G cells.