Dynamically controlling a Femtocell base station downlink range for interference avoidance

A femtocell base station, comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• a femtocell control module configured to:
• obtain at least one uplink communication characteristic associated with uplink signals received by the femtocell base station,
• estimate, from the obtained at least one uplink communication characteristic and a number of rejected registration or handover requests, a power level of downlink signals transmitted by the femtocell base station, and
• reduce the power level of the downlink signals transmitted by the femtocell base station to a reduced power level if the estimated power level of the downlink signals transmitted by the femtocell base station exceeds a predefined threshold power level.

A method for dynamically adjusting a power level of downlink signals of a femtocell base station, comprising:

• obtaining at least one uplink communication characteristic associated with uplink signals received by the femtocell base station;
• estimating, from the obtained at least one uplink communication characteristic and a number of rejected registration or handover requests, the power level of the downlink signals transmitted by the femtocell base station;
• and
• reducing, using the femtocell base station, the power level of the downlink signals transmitted by the femtocell base station to a reduced power level if the estimated power level of the downlink signals transmitted by the femtocell base station exceeds a predefined threshold power level.