Method for improving communication coverage in multi-cell communication systems

In a multi-cell communication system having a plurality of fixed network equipment (FNE) for providing broad communication coverage to a plurality of communication units, a method of improving communication coverage, comprising:

• establishing communication with a communication unit in a first cell;
• detecting when a new cell assignment for the communication unit involved in the communication is needed to maintain the communication;
• denying the new cell assignment when a new cell assignment for the communication unit involved in the communication is needed to maintain the communication;
• and
• sending a neighbor cell list related to the new cell when the new cell assignment is denied.

In a multi-cell communication system, a method of reducing the number of entries in a neighbor cell list, comprising:

• providing a first neighbor cell list with limited entries;
• detecting when a communication unit is in need of handing-off a communication to a new cell to maintain the communication;
• denying access to the new cell when the communication unit is in need of handing-off the communication to a new cell to maintain the communication;
• and
• providing, when access to the new cell is denied, the communication unit with a new neighbor cell list, related to the new cell and including new neighbor cell information, in order to avoid including the new neighbor cell information in the first neighbor cell list.