Neighbor lists for use in multi-operator core network based neutral host networks

Abstract

A radio access network (RAN) of a neutral host network (NHN) provides communications in a plurality of small cells, and is a shared resource with shared access by a plurality of mobile network operators (MNOs) via a multi-operator core network (MOCN). A base station maintains a neighbor list of small cell frequencies of neighboring small cells of a small cell, and broadcasts, to a user equipment (UE), a system information message which includes the neighbor list. The base station additionally maintains a plurality of operator-specific neighbor lists of one or more macro-cell frequencies of one or more neighboring macro-cells, where each such list is associated with a respective one of a plurality of macro-cellular networks of the MNOs. The base station transmits, to the UE, a message including a selected one of the operator-specific neighbor lists associated with an identified one of the mobile network operators of the UE.