Use of MU-MIMO grouping efficiency as a basis to control configuration of dual-connectivity service

A method for controlling configuration of dual-connectivity service for a user equipment device (UE), wherein the dual-connectivity service comprises the UE being served concurrently over a first connection according to a first radio access technology (RAT) and over a second connection according to a second RAT, the method comprising:

• determining, by a first access node with which the UE has the first connection according to the first RAT, a Multi-User Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) grouping efficiency of a candidate second access node;
• using, by the first access node, the determined MU-MIMO grouping efficiency of the candidate second access node as a basis to make a decision of whether to configure the dual-connectivity service with the UE having the second connection with the candidate second access node;
• and
• controlling, by the first access node, configuration of the dual-connectivity service for the UE in accordance with the decision.

In a wireless communication system comprising a first access node configured to provide service according to a first radio access technology (RAT) and a plurality of second access nodes each configured to provide service according to a second RAT, the first access node comprising:

• a wireless communication interface through which to engage in air-interface communication and provide the service according to the first RAT;
• and
• a controller, wherein the controller is configured to cause the first access node to carry out operations when a user equipment device (UE) has a first connection with the first access node according to the first RAT, the operations including:
• determining Multi-User Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) grouping efficiencies of the plurality of second access nodes, including determining a MU-MIMO grouping efficiency respectively of each second access node of the plurality of second access nodes,
• selecting one of the second access nodes from among the plurality of second access nodes, the selecting being based on the determined MU-MIMO grouping efficiency of the selected second access node being highest of the determined MU-MIMO grouping efficiencies of the plurality of second access nodes, and
• based on the selecting, configuring the dual-connectivity service for the UE, with the UE having the first connection with the first access node and having the second connection with the selected second access node.