Methods, systems, and devices for enhanced cell activation in a network supporting dual connectivity

A non-transitory machine-readable storage device, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising:

• receiving data relating to a user equipment, wherein the user equipment is communicatively coupled to a first network node of a plurality of network nodes of a network, and wherein the data relating to the user equipment includes a signal strength measurement associated with a second network node of the plurality of network nodes and information regarding a data buffer associated with the user equipment;
• receiving node information relating to the second network node, wherein the node information identifies available network resources of the second network node;
• determining, based on the information regarding the data buffer, that a status of the data buffer satisfies a condition;
• determining that the first network node has insufficient network resources to satisfy a network resource demand of the user equipment based on the determining that the status of the data buffer satisfies the condition;
• and
• selectively activating the second network node, based on the signal strength measurement associated with the second network node and the available network resources of the second network node, responsive to the determining that the first network node has insufficient network resources to satisfy the network resource demand of the user equipment.

A method, comprising:

• obtaining, by a processing system including a processor, data relating to a user equipment, wherein the user equipment is communicatively coupled to a first network node of a plurality of network nodes of a network, and wherein the data relating to the user equipment includes a signal strength measurement associated with a second network node of the plurality of network nodes, information identifying a projected movement of the user equipment, and information regarding a data buffer associated with the user equipment;
• obtaining, by the processing system, node information relating to the second network node, wherein the node information identifies available network resources of the second network node and a coverage range of the second network node;
• determining, by the processing system, and based on the information regarding the data buffer, that a status of the data buffer satisfies a condition;
• determining, by the processing system, that the first network node has insufficient network resources to satisfy a network resource need of the user equipment based on the determining that the status of the data buffer satisfies the condition;
• and
• selectively activating, by the processing system, the second network node responsive to the determining that the first network node has insufficient network resources to satisfy the network resource need of the user equipment, wherein the selectively activating the second network node is based on the signal strength measurement associated with the second network node, the information identifying the projected movement of the user equipment, the available network resources of the second network node, and the coverage range of the second network node.