Cellular communication system and method for broadcast communication

A wireless communication unit comprising:

• logic arranged to communicate on a first cellular network that uses a single cell identifier reuse pattern;
• logic arranged to communicate on a second cellular network comprising a cluster of communication cells that uses a same common cell identifier reuse pattern for broadcast transmissions across the cluster of communication cells.

Management logic (146) for a cellular communication system arranged to be operably coupled to a plurality of wireless serving communication units wherein the management logic comprises:

• logic for applying a single cell identifier reuse pattern in a first cellular network;
• and broadcast mode logic (150) for applying a common cell identifier reuse pattern for broadcast transmissions in a second cellular network that comprises a cluster of communication cells;
• wherein the broadcast mode logic (150) applies the same common cell identifier (215) to be used by the plurality of wireless serving communication units across the cluster of communication cells in the second cellular network.

A method of supporting communication in a cellular communication system (100) comprising a first cellular network and a second cellular network, the method comprising:

• applying a single cell identifier reuse pattern for use in the first cellular network;
• applying a same common cell identifier reuse pattern for broadcast transmissions across a cluster of communication cells of the second cellular network.

A method of communicating in a cellular communication system comprising a first cellular network and a second cellular network, the method comprising, at a wireless communication unit:

• communicating on the first cellular network that uses a single cell identifier reuse pattern;
• receiving broadcast communications across a cluster of communication cells on the second cellular network using a same common cell identifier reuse pattern across the cluster of communication cells.

A non-transitory computer program product having executable program code stored therein for supporting communications in a cellular communication system comprising a first cellular network arranged to use a single cell identifier reuse pattern and a second cellular network arranged to use a common cell identifier, the program code operable for, when executed at management logic:

• applying a single cell identifier reuse pattern for use in the first cellular network;
• and applying a same common cell identifier reuse pattern for broadcast transmissions across a cluster of communication cells of the second cellular network.

A non-transitory computer program product having executable program code stored therein for supporting communications in a cellular communication system comprising a first cellular network arranged to use a single cell identifier reuse pattern and a second cellular network arranged to use a common cell identifier, the program code operable for, when executed at a wireless communication unit:

• communicating on the first cellular network that uses a single cell identifier reuse pattern;
• and receiving broadcast communications across a cluster of communication cells on the second cellular network using a same common cell identifier reuse pattern across the cluster of communication cells.