Enabling higher-order modulation in a cellular network

A base station configured for selectively using a higher order modulation, HoM, mode for communications with a wireless device in a wireless communication network, the base station comprising:

• a communication interface configured to receive channel quality indicator, CQI, information from an uplink transmission of the wireless device;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to:
• determine a downlink channel quality estimate from the CQI information;
• and
• when a measurement of the channel quality estimate satisfies a predetermined criteria for each consecutive CQI information uplink transmission of a first predetermined number of consecutive CQI information uplink transmissions from the wireless device;
• switch a downlink transmission mode of the wireless device from a first modulation mode to a second modulation mode.