WO2014167066A1

WO2014167066A1 - Mobile communication network and method for operating a mobile communication network

Info

Publication number: WO2014167066A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/057296
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Rost; Athul Prasad
Original assignee: Nec Europe Ltd.
Priority date: 2013-04-10
Filing date: 2014-04-10
Publication date: 2014-10-16

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating a mobile communication network, comprising a radio access network and a backhaul network, wherein the radio access network and the backhaul network are connected with each other for data communication and wherein the radio access network comprises one or more base stations, preferably small-cell base stations, to which users can connect with their mobile device, wherein a) the backhaul network capacity is determined and wherein the radio capability of one or more of the base stations (BS) is adapted, preferably by the base stations itself, depending on the determined backhaul network capacity.

Description

MOBILE COMMUNICATION NETWORK AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOBILE COMMUNICATION NETWORK

The present invention relates to a method for operating a mobile communication network, comprising a radio access network and a backhaul network, wherein the radio access network and the backhaul network are connected with each other for data communication and wherein the radio access network comprises one or more base stations, preferably small-cell base stations, to which users can connect with their mobile devices.

The present invention further relates to a mobile communication network, comprising a radio access network and a backhaul network, wherein the radio access network and the backhaul network are connected with each other for data communication and wherein the radio access network comprises one or more base stations, preferably small-cell base stations, to which users can connect with their mobile devices, preferably for performing with a method according to one of the claims 1 -13.

The present invention even further relates to a backhaul resource controller connected to or being part of a mobile communication network comprising a radio access network and a backhaul network, wherein the radio access network and the backhaul network are connected with each other for data communication and wherein the radio access network comprises one or more base stations, preferably small-cell base stations, to which users can connect with their mobile devices, preferably for performing with a method according to one of the claims 1 -13 and/or with a mobile communication network according to claim 14.

Although applicable to base stations in general the present invention will be described with regard to small-cell base stations.

During the last decades an exponential increase in mobile traffic volume was observed, which has been expected to be continued: a 1000-fold increase by 2020 has been forecasted. To solve this expected huge amount of mobile traffic volume small-cells have been developed being capable of enabling new services, increasing energy-efficiency and reducing the costs of handling the explosive data growth.

However, one of the major problems is the strong inter-cell interference. Such small-cell deployments require a higher degree of coordination than conventional deployed systems. Small-cells may be used where it is difficult or to expensive to deploy a fixed broadband access, optical fiber or line-of-sight LOS based microwave connections for connecting the backhaul. Based on the non-patent literature of "Broadband Forum - Home," online available under http://www.broadband-forum.org/ it was reported that 30% of a mobile operator's operation expenditures is spent for backhaul networks.

In another non-patent literature of In Stat, "Wireless Backhaul: The Network Behind LTE, WiMAX, and 3G," October 2010, it is shown that the expenditures for wireless backhaul will increase by over 40% from 2009 to 2014. Hence small-cell deployments must be connected by heterogeneous backhaul technologies comprising fiber or microwave solutions as well as other forms for wireless backhaul as for example shown in the non-patent literature of NGMN Alliance (Next Generation Mobile Networks), "Next Generation Mobile Networks Optimised Backhaul Requirements," NGMN Alliance, August 2008.

Conventionally most radio access network designs including 3GPP consider the backhaul network to be sufficiently dimensioned in any way, i.e. to be over- provisioned. However, this assumption cannot be upheld in today's backhaul networks in particular when considering small-cells. Therefore the backhaul network cannot be seen as being over-provisioned when operating the radio access network. Since for example in conventional deployments and when using a wireless backhaul, for example microwave with 60 GHz millimeter waves, these technologies are highly susceptible to changing weather conditions and other environmental conditions. Therefore one of the disadvantages of conventional techniques is that the backhaul capacity changes over time leading to a suboptimal state of the small cell base stations. It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a mobile communication network and a method for operating same having an increased flexibility.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a mobile communication network and a method for operating the same which are easy to implement and cost effective.

It is an even further objective of the present invention to provide a mobile communication network and a method for operating the same which provide improved user experience for users with their mobile devices connected to the mobile communication network.

The aforementioned objectives are accomplished by a method of claim 1 and a mobile communication network of claim 14 as well as by a backhaul resource controller according to claim 15.

In claim 1 a method for operating a mobile communication network is defined comprising a radio access network and a backhaul network, wherein the radio access network and the backhaul network are connected with each other for data communication and wherein the radio access network comprises one or more base stations, preferably small-cell base stations, to which users can connect with their mobile devices.

According to claim 1 the method is characterized in that a) the backhaul network capacity is determined and that b) the radio capabilities of one or more of the base stations is adapted, preferably by the corresponding base station itself, depending on the determined backhaul network capacity. In clainn 14 a mobile communication network is defined, comprising a radio access network and a backhaul network, wherein the radio access network and the backhaul network are connected with each other for data communication and wherein the radio access network comprises one or more base stations, preferably small-cell base stations, to which users can connect with their mobile devices, preferably for performing with a method according to one of the claims 1 -13.

According to claim 14 the mobile communication network is characterized in that a) a backhaul resource controller and/or one or more of the base stations are operable to determine the backhaul network capacity and that b) one or more of the base stations are operable to adapt their radio capabilities depending on the determined backhaul network capacity.

In claim 15 a backhaul resource controller is defined connected to or being part of a mobile communication network, comprising a radio access network and a backhaul network, wherein the radio access network and the backhaul network are connected with each other for data communication and wherein the radio access network comprises one or more base stations, preferably small-cell base stations, to which users can connect with their mobile devices, preferably for performing with a method according to one of the claims 1 -13 and/or with a system according to claims 14.

According to claim 15 the backhaul resource controller is characterized in that the backhaul resource controller is operable to determine and/or to receive the backhaul network capacity and to initiate the one or more of the base stations to adapt their radio capabilities depending on the determined and/or received backhaul network capacity.

According to the invention it has been first recognized that the radio access network capacity may be actively adapted based on the backhaul resource network capacity. Therefore the risk of congestion is distributed more evenly.

According to the invention it has been further recognized that a joint optimization of the backhaul network as well as the radio access network operation is enabled. According to the invention it has been even further recognized that user experience can be improved. According to the invention it has been even further recognized that the operation expenditures as well as the capital expenditures for the mobile communication network can be reduced since non-ideal backhaul networks can be used instead of expensive ideal backhaul networks. According to the invention it has been even further recognized that backhaul capacity limited base stations can be easily integrated into a mobile communication network.

Further features, advantages and preferred embodiments are described in the following subclaims.

According to a preferred embodiment the backhaul network capacity is based on the backhaul link capacity indicating the capacity of the connection links between the one or more base stations and the backhaul network. This enables to adapt the radio capabilities of the radio access network based on the backhaul link capacities which limit the maximum throughput on each backhaul link. These individual capacities may change over time due to changing weather conditions, for example obstacles on a direct line-of-sight connection and other environmental changes. Therefore an efficient adaption of the radio access network to the changing backhaul link connections is provided.

According to a further preferred embodiment adapting the radio capabilities include an increase or decrease in power of a base station. This enables for example to change the downlink power, the downlink power control or the power control for a carrier aggregation. Thus, flexibility is further enhanced as well as an easy adaption of radio capabilities is provided.

According to a further preferred embodiment downlink power is increased or reduced, preferably in selected spectral regions. When the downlink power is increased or reduced the base station may reduce or increase its emitted signal power in order to increase or decrease the cell size such that a cell with high backhaul capacity may also support a larger cell size. When the downlink power is controlled the base station may select to decrease or increase the power on certain spectral regions. For example if too many users have a similar path loss towards their base station then only a few of them are offloaded.

According to a further preferred embodiment different power control levels are applied to different carriers within a carrier aggregation system. Then the base station may apply different power control levels to different carriers in order to offload users and to have different cell sizes for each carrier. Thus, flexibility and efficiency is further enhanced.

According to a further preferred embodiment adapting the radio capabilities include increasing or reducing a size of the cell of a base station, preferably by altering the cell range extension parameter. This enables in an efficient and fast way to change the cell range extension, i.e. to extend or reduce the cell size. Thus flexibility is further enhanced. According to a further preferred embodiment the base stations negotiate their cell sizes, preferably only adjacent base stations. This enables to further enhance the flexibility and provides an enhanced operation of the mobile communication network when adjacent base stations negotiate their cell sizes with each other. A further advantage is that communication does not have to be performed via a centralized entity or via the backhaul network.

According to a further preferred embodiment the negotiation is performed by a centralized entity, preferably implemented as a self-organizing network, in particular taking into account the load of different cells of base stations and/or via one or more P2P connections, preferably via an X2 interface. A negotiation performed by a centralized entity enables a centralized coordination of the negotiation not only of adjacent base stations but also of other base stations, so that an overall optimization of the cell sizes of all base stations can be performed. When using a peer-to-peer connection, preferably via a X2 interface a direct negotiation between the base stations is possible and preferably the 3GPP-X2- interface can be used for the communication related to the negotiation.

According to a further preferred embodiment the backhaul network capacity is determined by a centralized entity, wherein the centralized entity then informs the base stations about the determined backhaul network capacity and the base stations then use the provided backhaul network capacity for adapting their radio capabilities. This allows to completely centralize the determination and the initiation of an adaption of the radio capabilities via a centralized entity. Of course the adaption of the base stations may be performed selectively, i.e. not all base stations may be provided with the backhaul network capacity, so that they do not adapt their radio capabilities. One of the advantages is, that then for example a centralized access to this centralized entity, for example by an operator, is possible to provide rules for adaption or for defining the backhaul network capacity the backhaul link capacity, etc.. Thus, efficiency is enhanced.

According to a further preferred embodiment the cell size of a base station is adapted linearly based on the determined backhaul network capacity. When the cell size of each base station is chosen as a linear dependency on the available backhaul network capacity, i.e. that the size of the base station i be A then

wherein Ci, C\ denote the backhaul link capacity between the corresponding base station in the radio access network and a corresponding receiving entity in the backhaul network ensuring that the probability of congestion is equal in each cell. The cell size may then be chosen such that it refers to the actual physical cell size, the maximum path-loss between the base station and a user equipment, an average throughput carried by the cell or the shared throughput carried by the cell or the like. According to a further preferred embodiment steps a) and b) are performed periodically and/or event-based. This ensures that whenever the backhaul network capacity, in particular the backhaul link capacity changes, then the radio capabilities are adapted correspondingly. According to a further preferred embodiment the centralized entity is provided in form of a pseudo base station. This enables to easily communication with other base stations without having to introduce additional interfaces or the like for a communication between the base stations. Thus integration is enhanced.

According to a further preferred embodiment an unused field within an information exchange according to a communication protocol, preferably a status message exchange between adjacent base stations, is used to report, preferably periodically, a backhaul link capacity. This enables an easy integration in existing communication protocols for information exchange between base stations, preferably adjacent base stations. An example for such an unused field is shown in the table below:

IE/Group Presence Range IE type and Semantics Criti- AsName reference description cality signed

Criti- cality

Message M 9.2.13 YES reject Type

eNB1 M INTEGER Allocated YES reject

Measurement (1..4095,...) by eNBi

ID

eNB2 C-ifReg- INTEGER Allocated YES ignore

Measurement istration- (1..4095,...) by eNB₂

ID Request- Stop

Registration M ENUMERA value set to YES reject Request ATE D(start, "stop", indicates a

stop, request to stop all

■^■■) cells measurements.

Report 0 BIT- Each position in the YES reject

Characteristic STRING bitmap indicates s (SIZE(32)) measurement

object the eNB2 is

requested to report.

First Bit = PRB

Periodic,

Second Bit = TNL

load Ind Periodic,

Third Bit = HW

Load Ind Periodic,

Fourth Bit =

Composite Available Capacity Periodic,

Fifth Bit = ABS

Status Periodic.

Other bits shall be

ignored by the

eNB₂.

Cell To / Cell ID list for which YES ignore Report measurement is

needed

>Cell To / EACH ignore Report Item <max- Cel-

HneNB>

»Cell ID M ECGI - - 9.2.14

Reporting 0 ENUMER- YES ignore Periodicity ATED(1000

ms,

2000ms,

5000ms, 10

000ms, ...) Partial 0 ENUMERIncluded if partial YES ignore

Success ATED success is allowed

Indicator (partial

success

allowed, ...)

The table shows a resource status request message information as for example shown in the non-patent literature "3GPP TS 36.432, "E-UTRAN: X2 application protocol (X2AP) (release 1 1 )".

Here it is shown that beginning from the field "report characteristics", that the fields after the 5^th bit are unused. Therefore one of these Bits may be set to "1" if a base station, preferably an eNodeB wants its neighboring base stations, preferably eNodeBs, to report periodically the backhaul link conditions. This bit could indicate to neighboring base stations to report backhaul conditions to the base stations. The field "Cell To Report" indicates the cells of the base stations which need to report its backhaul link conditions to a serving base station, if a base station, preferably an eNodeB, has multiple cells. In the following table possible currently defined parameters in a response/update procedure are shown:

IE/Group Presence Range IE type Semantics Criticality Assigned Name and description Criticality reference

Message Type M 9.2.13 YES ignore eNB1 M INTEGER Allocated YES reject

Measurement (1..4095,.. by eNBi

ID ^■)

eNB2 M INTEGER Allocated YES reject

Measurement (1..4095,.. by eNB₂

ID ^■) Cell / YES ignore

Measurement

Result

>Cell / EACH ignore

Measurement <maxCe

Result Item HineNB>

»Cell ID M ECGI

9.2.14

»Hardware 0 9.2.34

Load Indicator

»S1 TNL 0 9.2.35

Load Indicator

»Radio 0 9.2.37

Resource

Status

»Composite 0 9.2.44 YES ignore Available

Capacity

Group

»ABS 0 9.2.58 YES Ignore Status

»Backhaul O/M

Status

As it can be seen from the table above the information about the backhaul status is transported within the item "Cell Measurennent Result Item" within the field "Cell Measurennent Result". The field "backhaul status" may contain the following information elements:

IE/Group Name Presence Range IE type and reference Semantics description

DL Backhaul M INTEGER (0..100)

Capacity

UL Backhaul M INTEGER (0..100)

And further may also contain user plane load status indicators:

The load indicator could be similarly defined according to 3GPP TS 36.432 "E- UTRAN: X2 application protocol (X2AP) (release 1 1 )".

Alternatively the radio resource status element in the Radio Resource Response/Update may be modified as shown below:

The base station, here the eNodeBI , may upon receiving the information above from neighboring cells change its radio capabilities, i.e. its parameters to adapt to the determined backhaul network capacity. There are several ways how to design and further develop the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous way. To this end it is to be referred to the patent claims subordinate to patent claim 1 on the one hand and to the following explanation of preferred embodiments of the invention by way of example, illustrated by the figure on the other hand. In connection with the explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention by the aid of the figure, generally preferred embodiments and further developments of the teaching will be explained. In the drawings

Fig. 1 shows a mobile communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows part of a mobile communication network according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 shows steps of part of a method according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 shows steps of part of a method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a mobile communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In Fig. 1 a backhaul resource controller BRC is shown which is connected to a local cluster of base stations BS within a radio access network RAN through an interface h. Furthermore the backhaul resource controller BRC is connected through an interface to the local backhaul infrastructure BN which delivers data to the base station cluster BS in the radio access network RAN. The base stations BS are connected to the backhaul network via backhaul links BLC indicated by their backhaul link capacities

The backhaul link capacities C, limit the maximum throughput on each backhaul link Ci, i.e. from each of the base stations BS to the backhaul network BN. These individual backhaul link capacities C, may change over time for example due to changing weather conditions, obstacles on the direct line-of-sight connection and other environmental changes, etc.. The backhaul resource controller BRC or each local base station BS may adapt its radio access stratum parameterization depending on the changing capacity C, of the backhaul network BN.

The backhaul resource controller BRC or the local base station BS may change the following parameters:

Downlink power: The base station BS may reduce or increase its emitted signal power in order to increase or decrease the cell size of the base station BS such that the cell with high backhaul capacity C, also supports a larger cell size of the base station BS.

Downlink power control: The base station BS may selectively increase or decrease the power on certain spectral regions. In the case of too many users or user equipment UE respectively having a similar path loss towards the base station BS few of them could be offloaded by selectively increasing or decreasing the power on the certain spectral regions accordingly.

Power control for carrier aggregation: The base station BS may apply different power control levels to different carriers within a carrier aggregation system in order to offload users or user equipment UE respectively and to have different cell sizes for each carrier.

Handover parameter: The base station BS may choose for example a favorable A3 offset according to 3GPP in order to offload users to adjacent cells of base stations BS if their connecting backhaul capacity C, is not sufficient.

Cell-range extension: The base station BS may alter the cell-range extension parameter CRE in order to extend or reduce the cell size. A coordination with adjacent base station BS may be performed by the backhaul resource controller BRC, for example through proprietary interfaces or through direct peer-to-peer connections, such as the X2 interface according to 3GPP TS 36.432 "E-UTRAN: X2 application protocol (X2AP) (release 1 1 )" after measuring the backhaul network quality: For example the base stations BS measures the backhaul network quality and based on that result it negotiates with the one or more adjacent base stations BS a different cell size.

The parameterization may be performed either centrally by taking into account the load of different cells, which may be implemented as the self-organizing network (SON) or locally by each individual base station BS.

Fig. 2 shows part of a mobile communication network according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In Fig. 2 a radio access network RAN with a plurality of base stations BS is shown. Each base station is connected via an X2 interface to its adjacent base station BS. Further a proprietary interface is provided with the backhaul resource controller BRC which is connected to each base station BS individually. The backhaul resource controller BRC could be implemented in any entity using a base station BS or an eNodeB which is aware of its backhaul link condition Ci.

In Fig. 2 the base stations BS are implemented in form of eNodeBs connected together using the X2 interface. The eNodeBs which are collocated could also be provided in form of a cluster to communicate with each other as shown by the hexagons in Fig. 2. The interface between the base stations BS in a cluster could be wired or over-the-air interface.

Fig. 3 shows steps of part of a method according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In Fig. 3 a flow diagram of a method according to the invention is shown. After the initial step SO to begin, in a first step S1 the eNodeB becomes aware that the backhaul conditions have changed. ln a second step S2 the eNodeB informs neighboring eNodeBs regarding the change in its backhaul conditions. In a third step S3 the neighboring eNodeBs change their network and/or radio parameters.

In a fourth step S4 it is checked whether the change in the backhaul conditions are favorable or not.

If yes then in a fifth step S5 no further steps are performed and if not then in a sixth step S6 the steps S2-S4 are performed again as long as the change in the conditions is not favorable. To summarize Fig. 3 an eNodeB becomes aware that backhaul conditions have changed. This could be based on a feedback from the backhaul resource controller BRC by using any other techniques such as backhaul link estimation or the like. Once this occurs the eNodeB informs neighboring eNodeBs regarding the change in parameters and request a change in neighboring eNodeB parameters based on this information. Alternatively the eNodeB could directly inform neighboring eNodeBs regarding which parameters need to be changed. This information could be exchanged periodically and/or in an event-triggered manner.

Fig. 4 shows steps of part of a method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In Fig. 4 a signaling diagram for resource status request is shown as currently defined in 3GPP TS36.423 "E-UTRAN": X2 application protocol (X2 AP) (release 1 1 ).

The first evolved NodeB eNB1 initiates a resource status request in a first step T1 to a second evolved NodeB eNB2. The second evolved NodeB eNB2 replies with a resource status response back to the first evolved NodeB eNB1 in a second step T2. Alternatively in a third step T3 the second evolved NodeB eNB2 reports a resource status failure back to the evolved NodeB eNB1. The messages are sent between the first and second evolved NodeB eNB1 and eNB2. A response message is sent if the request is successful else a failure message is sent. Such a request for a resource status is described above, cf. the description with regard to the tables above. In summary the present invention enables to actively adapt the radio access network capacity by the backhaul resource controller depending on the backhaul network capacity in order to distribute a risk of congestion more easily.

Further the present invention enables that the cell size of a base station may be chosen linearly dependent on the available backhaul capacity while the definition of a cell size may differ.

The present invention has inter alia the following advantages: The present invention optimizes jointly the backhaul network operation as well as the radio access network operation. Further the present invention improves user experience through enabling improved load balancing. A further advantage is that the capital expenditures CAPEX and the operational expenditures OPEX for the mobile communication network are reduced because non-ideal backhaul network infrastructure may be used instead of expensive ideal one. Further the present invention enables to integrate backhaul-capacity-limited base stations.

Additionally the present invention can be easily integrated in conventional mobile communication systems and increases the efficiency as well as the flexibility and even user experience.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind the one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. A method for operating a mobile communication network (RAN, BN), comprising a radio access network (RAN) and a backhaul network (BN), wherein the radio access network (RAN) and the backhaul network (BN) are connected with each other for data communication and wherein the radio access network (RAN) comprises one or more base stations (BS), preferably small-cell base stations, to which users (U) can connect with their mobile devices (UE),

characterized in that a) the backhaul network capacity is determined and that b) the radio capabilities of one or more of the base stations (BS) is adapted, preferably by the corresponding base station itself, depending on the determined backhaul network capacity.

2. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the backhaul network capacity is based on the backhaul link capacity (BLC) indicating the capacity (Ci) of the connection links between one or more of the base stations (BS) and the backhaul network.

3. The method according to one of the claims 1 -2, characterized in that adapting the radio capabilities include an increase or decrease in power of a base station (BS).

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that downlink power is increased or reduced, preferably in selected spectral regions.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that different power control levels are applied to different carriers within a carrier aggregation system.

6. The method according to one of the claims 1 -5, characterized in that adapting the radio capabilities include increasing or reducing a size of the cell (2) of a base station (BS), preferably by altering the cell range extension parameter.

7. The method according to one of the claims 1 -6, characterized in that the, base stations (BS) negotiate their cell sizes, preferably only adjacent base stations.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the negotiation is performed via a centralized entity (BRC), preferably implemented as a self- organizing network, in particular taking into account the load of different cells (2) of base stations (BS) and/or via one or more P2P connections, preferably via a X2 interface.

9. The method according to one of the claims 1 -8, characterized in that the backhaul network capacity is determined by a centralized entity (BRC), wherein the centralized entity (BRC) then informs the base stations (BS) about the determined backhaul network capacity (BRC, BC), and the base stations (BSS) then use the provided backhaul network capacity (BRC, BC) for adapting their radio capabilities.

10. The method according to one of the claims 6-9, characterized in that the cell size of a base station (BS) is adapted linearly based on the determined backhaul network capacity (BRC, BC).

1 1. The method according to one of the claims 1 -10, characterized in that steps a) and b) are performed periodically and/or event-based.

12. The method according to one of the claims 8-1 1 , characterized in that the centralized entity (BRC) is provided in form of a pseudo base station (eNB).

13. The method according to one of the claims 1 -12, characterized in that an unused field within an information exchange according to a communication protocol, preferably a status message exchange between adjacent base stations (BS), is used to report, preferably periodically, a backhaul link capacity.

14. A mobile communication network, comprising a radio access network (RAN) and a backhaul network (BN), wherein the radio access network (RAN) and the backhaul network (BN) are connected with each other for data communication and wherein the radio access network (RAN) comprises one or more base stations (BS), preferably small-cell base stations, to which users (U) can connect with their mobile devices (UE), preferably for performing with a method according to one of the claims 1 -13,

characterized in that a) a backhaul resource controller (BRC) and/or one or more of the base stations are operable to determine the backhaul network capacity (BLC, BC) and that b) one or more of the base stations (BS) are operable to adapt their radio capabilities depending on the determined backhaul network capacity (BLC, BC).

15. A backhaul resource controller (BRC) connected to or being part of a mobile communication network (RAN, BN), comprising a radio access network (RAN) and a backhaul network (BN), wherein the radio access network (RAN) and the backhaul network (BN) are connected with each other for data communication and wherein the radio access network (RAN) comprises one or more base stations (BS), preferably small-cell base stations, to which users (U) can connect with their mobile devices (UE), preferably for performing with a method according to one of the claims 1 -13 and/or with a system according to claims 14,

characterized in that

the backhaul resource controller (BRC) is operable to determine the backhaul network capacity (BLC, BC) and to initiate the one or more of the base stations (BS) to adapt their radio capabilities depending on the determined backhaul network capacity (BLC, BC).