Apparatus, methods, and computer programs for predicting network performance before triggering handover

An apparatus for a serving network access node, the apparatus comprising means for:

• providing a first user equipment with access to a network;
• signaling, to a first network access node, a request for a first indication that indicates how at least one load-related parameter of the first network access node would likely be affected if the first network access node were to serve the first user equipment;
• receiving, from the first network access node, the first indication;
• and
• making at least one load-related decision for the first user equipment in dependence on the received first indication.

A method for an apparatus for a serving network access node, the method comprising:

• providing a first user equipment with access to a network;
• signalling, to a first network access node, a request for a first indication that indicates how at least one load-related parameter of the first network access node would likely be affected if the first network access node were to serve the first user equipment;
• receiving, from the first network access node, the first indication;
• and/or
• making at least one load-related decision for the first user equipment in dependence on the received first indication.