Connected mode mobility for enhanced coverage user equipment

A method, comprising:

• initiating a handover at a user equipment from a source access node to a target access node;
• determining, by the user equipment, a coverage mode, wherein the coverage mode comprises a normal coverage mode or an enhanced coverage mode;
• and
• sending one of a contention-based random access channel preamble and a dedicated preamble to the target access node contingent on the coverage mode.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code,
• wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to
• initiate a handover at a user equipment from a source access node to a target access node;
• determine, by the user equipment, a coverage mode, wherein the coverage mode comprises a normal coverage mode or an enhanced coverage mode;
• and
• send one of a contention-based random access channel preamble and a dedicated preamble to the target access node contingent on the coverage mode.

A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising:

• code for initiating a handover at a user equipment from a source access node to a target access node;
• code for determining, by a user equipment, a coverage mode, wherein the coverage mode comprises a normal coverage mode or an enhanced coverage mode;
• and
• code for sending one of a contention-based random access channel preamble and a dedicated preamble to the target access node contingent on the coverage mode.