A system for allocating capacity in a wireless communication network, the system comprising: a plurality of baseband-level capacity processors, each coupled to a corresponding baseband processor, wherein each of the plurality of baseband-level capacity processors is adapted to determine a number of actively connected wireless devices and a number of inactively connected wireless devices, connected to the corresponding baseband processor, adapted to maintain a baseband-level active connection allocation indicating a number of available active connections, between the corresponding baseband processor and a wireless device, for the baseband-level capacity processor, and adapted to respond to a request for an active connection from at least one requesting wireless device; and a plurality of client-level capacity processors, each corresponding to an individual wireless base station, and each coupled to a distinct subset of baseband-level capacity processors within the plurality of baseband-level capacity processors, wherein each of the plurality of client-level capacity processors is adapted to maintain an active connection reservation indicating a number of additional baseband-level active connection allocations that can be made available for its corresponding baseband-level capacity processors, adapted to provide the baseband-level active connection allocation to each of its corresponding baseband-level capacity processors, adapted to perform a client-level look ahead function to estimate or anticipate a future demand for active connections, and adapted to respond to requests for a baseband-level additional active connection allocation from its corresponding baseband-level capacity processors. a plurality of baseband-level capacity processors, each coupled to a corresponding baseband processor, wherein each of the plurality of baseband-level capacity processors is adapted to determine a number of actively connected wireless devices and a number of inactively connected wireless devices, connected to the corresponding baseband processor, adapted to maintain a baseband-level active connection allocation indicating a number of available active connections, between the corresponding baseband processor and a wireless device, for the baseband-level capacity processor, and adapted to respond to a request for an active connection from at least one requesting wireless device; and a plurality of client-level capacity processors, each corresponding to an individual wireless base station, and each coupled to a distinct subset of baseband-level capacity processors within the plurality of baseband-level capacity processors, wherein each of the plurality of client-level capacity processors is adapted to maintain an active connection reservation indicating a number of additional baseband-level active connection allocations that can be made available for its corresponding baseband-level capacity processors, adapted to provide the baseband-level active connection allocation to each of its corresponding baseband-level capacity processors, adapted to perform a client-level look ahead function to estimate or anticipate a future demand for active connections, and adapted to respond to requests for a baseband-level additional active connection allocation from its corresponding baseband-level capacity processors.