Enabling an extent of substantially simultaneous communication based on device prevalence

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a radio access network (RAN) device of a RAN, cause the RAN device to perform functions comprising:

• determining a metric indicative of a prevalence of wireless communication devices (WCDs) of a first type that are served by the RAN, wherein WCDs of a second type are also served by the RAN, wherein WCDs of the first type are configured to communicate with the RAN using a first air-interface or a second air-interface, wherein WCDs of the second type are configured to communicate using the second air-interface and not the first air-interface, and wherein the RAN device is configured to engage in a first extent of substantially simultaneous communication with WCDs of either the first type or the second type when using the second air-interface;
• comparing the metric to a threshold WCD prevalence;
• based on the comparison of the metric to the threshold WCD prevalence, selecting a second extent of substantially simultaneous communication to engage in with WCDs of either the first type or the second type when using the second air-interface;
• receiving a call setup request related to a particular WCD;
• and
• in response to receiving the call setup request, assigning at most the second extent of wireless coverage areas for the particular WCD to engage in communication with the RAN device using the second air-interface.

A radio access network (RAN) device of a RAN comprising:

• a processor;
• a data storage;
• and
• program instructions, stored in the data storage and executable by the processor, that cause the RAN device to:
• determine a metric indicative of a prevalence of wireless communication devices (WCDs) of a first type that are served by the RAN, wherein WCDs of a second type are also served by the RAN, wherein WCDs of the first type are configured to communicate with the RAN device using a first air-interface or a second air-interface, wherein WCDs of the second type are configured to communicate using the second air-interface and not the first air-interface, and wherein the RAN device is configured to engage in a first extent of substantially simultaneous communication with WCDs of either the first type or the second type when using the second air-interface;
• compare the metric to a threshold WCD prevalence;
• based on the comparison of the metric to the threshold WCD prevalence, select a second extent of substantially simultaneous communication to engage in with WCDs of either the first type or the second type when using the second air-interface;
• receive a call setup request related to a particular WCD;
• and
• in response to receiving the call setup request, select at most the second extent of wireless coverage areas for the particular WCD to engage in communication with the RAN device using the second air-interface.