User equipment camping in a virtual cell

An apparatus for wireless communication at a first cell, comprising:

• a processor, memory coupled to the processor;
• and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:
• identify that the first cell is a virtual cell with a coverage area that includes a plurality of wireless devices providing respective physical cells and corresponding physical cell coverage areas;
• receive, from a user equipment (UE), a random access message as part of a random access procedure for transitioning the UE to a connected mode with the first cell;
• and
• provide, to the UE and in response to the random access message, information to either handover or redirect the UE to one of the respective physical cells within the coverage area of the first cell.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station coupled with a plurality of other base stations, comprising:

• a processor, memory coupled to the processor;
• and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:
• identify a virtual cell configuration for the base station, wherein the virtual cell configuration provides at least one user equipment (UE) with a virtual cell having a coverage area that includes the plurality of other base stations providing respective physical cells and corresponding physical cell coverage areas;
• and
• communicate with the at least one UE or at least one of the plurality of other base stations in accordance with the virtual cell configuration.