Cell Selection/Reselection Mechanism for a Mobile Communication System

A method of operating a mobile station within one or more radio access networks, the method comprising:

• receiving in the mobile station, system information messages broadcast by a radio access network, the system information messages including an indication of whether the broadcasting network provides support for a packet switched handover procedure;
• and
• using the indication of support for packet switched handover as a factor in selecting by the mobile station, a cell of a radio access network/technology or a Routing Area of a radio access network within which to camp.

A mobile station for use within one or more radio access networks, the mobile station comprising:

• means for receiving system information messages broadcast by a radio access network, the system information messages including an indication of whether the broadcasting network provides support for a packet switched handover procedure;
• and
• means for using the indication of support for packet switched handover as a factor in selecting by the mobile station, a cell of a radio access network/technology or a Routing Area of a radio access network within which to camp.

A radio access network comprising:

• means for determining whether the radio access network supports a packet switched handover procedure;
• and
• means for causing an indication of support for the packet switched handover procedure to be broadcast within the radio access network, upon determining that the radio access network supports the packet switched handover procedure.