Responding to paging requests while waiting to request a connection to a wireless network

A network control node operable to control load across a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of radio coverage cells, said network control node comprising:

• load determination logic operable to determine loading of at least one of said radio coverage cells based on an indication of an operating parameter of said at least one radio coverage cells;
• request receiver for receiving connection requests from user equipment via said at least one of said radio coverage cells;
• communication logic operable to:
• transmit a message in response to said load determination logic determining said loading of said at least one of said radio coverage cells being above a predetermined level, said message comprising a wait time indicating a time during which said user equipment should not transmit a request to connect to said network;
• and
• operable to transmit paging information indicating at least some paging requests that said user equipment should respond to during said wait time.

A method of selectively responding to paging requests at a user equipment during a wait time, said wait time arising in response to said user equipment having received a message comprising said wait time from a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of radio coverage cells, said wait time indicating a time during which said user equipment should not transmit a connection request;

• the method comprising
• during said wait time receiving at least one paging request from said network;
• and
• responding to said paging request in dependence upon paging information received from said network.

A method of controlling load across a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of radio coverage cells, comprising:

• determining loading of at least one of said radio coverage cells;
• receiving connection requests from user equipment via said at least one of said radio coverage cells;
• transmitting a message in response to determining said loading of said at least one of said radio coverage cells being above a predetermined level, said message comprising a wait time indicating a time during which said user equipment should not transmit a connection request;
• and
• transmitting paging information indicating at least some paging requests that said user equipment should respond to during said wait time.