Systems and methods for selectively enabling and disabling secondary-band radios via primary-band signaling

A method carried out by at least one radio access network (RAN) entity, the at least one RAN entity comprising at least one communication interface, at least one processor, and data storage having stored thereon program instructions executable by the at least one processor for carrying out the method, which comprises:

• the at least one RAN entity providing service to a multi-band-capable access terminal that comprises a first radio arranged to communicate over a first radio band and a second radio arranged to communicate over a second radio band, wherein the multi-band-capable access terminal is arranged to prefer the first radio band to the second radio band;
• the at least one RAN entity making a secondary-radio-disabling determination, wherein making the secondary-radio-disabling determination comprises making a determination that the multi-band-capable access terminal is located in a vicinity of a particular set of one or more base stations that operate on the second radio band;
• and
• responsive to making the secondary-radio-disabling determination, the at least one RAN entity sending to the first radio over the first radio band a command that the multi-band-capable access terminal disable the second radio.