Methods and radio access node for determining a cell state

A radio access node configured to initiate a cell state test for a cell served by the radio access node in a radio access network, the radio access node comprising:

• a core network communication unit configured for messaging with one or more core network entities;
• a radio transceiver configured for paging one or more user equipments in the cell in response to determination of fulfillment of a test triggering condition and for receiving page response(s) from the paged one or more user equipments in the cell;
• and
• a processor configured to process test triggering information, to determine fulfillment of the test triggering condition, to set a page response timer period, to assess the page response(s) from the paged one or more user equipments and to generate a cell state alert message.

A method for assessing a cell state in a radio access node comprising the steps of:

• forming a sleepy cell assumption;
• selecting a set of user equipments, UEs, for paging in response to the formation of the sleepy cell assumption;
• sending user equipment paging message(s) to the selected set of UEs;
• rejecting the sleepy cell assumption on receipt of a UE paging response from at least one user equipment of the selected set of UEs;
• and/or
• confirming the sleepy cell assumption at time out of a predetermined page response timer period when not receiving the UE paging response from at least one user equipment of the selected set of UEs.