Method for managing load balance in a cellular heterogeneous network

A method for managing load balance in a cellular heterogeneous network comprising one or more macro cells and a plurality of small cells, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• providing a plurality of spectrum carriers for conveying communication traffic to and from at least one of the one or more macro cells, and wherein:
• at least one of the spectrum carriers is a shared carrier, being adapted to enable conveying communication traffic to and from the at least one macro cells and at least one small cell of the plurality of small cells, said at least one small cell is located at the geographical vicinity of the at least one macro cell, and wherein said shared carrier is further characterized in that data is the only type of communication traffic being conveyed thereat when the cellular heterogeneous network is under congestion;
• at least one other of the spectrum carriers is a dedicated carrier, being adapted to essentially convey voice calls thereat;
• and wherein user terminals are steered away from the one of the at least one dedicated carriers to the shared carrier, so that when a data session is initiated for a user terminal of the user terminals associated with the shared carrier, that session will be conveyed towards the cellular heterogeneous network via one or more of the at least one small cell.