Methods, a network node and a wireless device for supporting handover in a cellular communications network

A method in a wireless device for supporting a handover of the wireless device from a serving cell being served by a serving base station to a candidate cell being served by a candidate base station, the serving base station and the candidate base station being comprised in a cellular communications network, wherein the method comprises:

• receiving, from a network node via the serving base station and/or via the candidate base station, a respective value of one or more parameters that affect a range for soft handover applied by the wireless device, wherein at least one respective value of the one or more parameters is determined based on output power of a transmitter of the serving base station for serving the serving cell and/or of a transmitter of the candidate base station for serving the candidate cell, and
• applying the range for soft handover to determine if the candidate cell is a subject for soft handover, which range for soft handover is affected by the respective value of the one or more parameters.

A network node for supporting a handover of a wireless device from a serving cell being served by a serving base station to a candidate cell being served by a candidate base station, the network node, the serving base station and the candidate base station being comprised in a cellular communications network, wherein the network node comprises:

• an determining circuitry configured to determine a respective value of one or more parameters for affecting a range for soft handover, the range of soft handover being applied by the wireless device to determine if the candidate cell is a subject for soft handover, wherein at least one respective value of the one or more parameters is determined based on output power of a transmitter of the serving base station for serving the serving cell and/or of a transmitter of the candidate base station for serving the candidate cell, and
• a providing circuitry configured to provide a sending of the respective value of the one or more parameters to the wireless device.

A wireless device for supporting a handover of the wireless device from a serving cell being served by a serving base station to a candidate cell being served by a candidate base station, the serving base station and the candidate base station being comprised in a cellular communications network, wherein the wireless device comprises:

• a receiving port configured to receive, from a network node via the serving base station and/or via the candidate base station, a respective value of one or more parameters that affect a range for soft handover applied by the wireless device, wherein at least one respective value of the one or more parameters is determined based on output power of a transmitter of the serving base station for serving the serving cell and/or of a transmitter of the candidate base station for serving the candidate cell, and
• an applying circuitry configured to apply the range for soft handover to determine if the candidate cell is a subject for soft handover, which range for soft handover is affected by the respective value of the one or more parameters.