Report NSA/SA NR indicator

A method performed by a serving network node for establishing an interface between a serving cell of the serving network node and a neighbor cell of neighbor new radio (NR) network node, the method comprising:

• the serving network node receiving a report transmitted by a communication device, wherein the report comprises network support information indicating whether the neighbor cell supports a Stand-Alone (SA) mode of operation and/or a Non-Stand-Alone (NSA) mode of operation;
• and
• the serving network node determining, based on the report, i) a type of interface to establish between the serving cell and the neighbor cell or ii) whether an interface between the serving cell and the neighbor cell should be established, wherein
• if the neighbor cell supports the SA mode of operation, then the neighbor cell has a control plane connection to a core network, and
• if the neighbor cell supports the NSA mode operation and not the SA mode of operation, then the neighbor cell does not have a control plane connection to a core network.

A communication device, the communication device comprising:

• a transmitter;
• and
• processing circuitry, wherein the communication device is configured to:
• acquire network support information associated with a neighbor cell provided by a neighbor new radio (NR) network node, wherein the network support information indicates whether the neighbor cell supports a Stand-Alone (SA) mode of operation and/or a Non-Stand-Alone (NSA) mode of operation, and wherein, if the neighbor cell supports the SA mode of operation, the neighbor cell has a control plane connection to a core network, and, if the neighbor cell supports the NSA mode operation and not the SA mode of operation, the neighbor cell does not have a control plane connection to a core network;
• and
• employ the transmitter to transmit to the serving network node a report comprising identification information associated with the neighbour cell and the network support information indicating whether the neighbor cell supports the SA mode of operation or the NSA mode of operation.