Method for conducting a frequency scan by a user equipment "UE" configured to operate in one of a plurality of cellular networks "CN", each comprising a plurality of base stations "BS" employing a plurality of frequency bands, the method comprising the steps for the user equipment "UE" of: - maintaining a list of frequency bands "LFB" assigned to at least one cellular network, - determining at least one network identification criterion relating to a cellular network "CN", - determining a list of candidate frequency bands from the list of frequency bands "LFB" considering said at least one network identification criterion, by selecting only those frequency bands which are assigned to the cellular network relating to the at least one network identification criterion, and - conducting a frequency band scan considering said list of candidate frequency bands, wherein determining the at least one network identification criterion comprises receiving from one of the plurality of base stations "BS" at least one system information block comprising a plurality of system information items, said at least one system information block comprising a system information item comprising a network identification criterion, wherein the cellular network "CN" comprises at least one radio access network comprising a base station "BS", wherein the list of frequency bands "LFB" comprises an indication of the respective radio access network, wherein determining the list of candidate frequency bands comprises considering a selected radio access network, wherein the selected radio access network is derived from a convenience order of radio access networks for conducting a frequency band search, and wherein the user equipment maintains a desired radio access network identification, wherein in case the radio access network indicated by the desired radio access network indication differs from the selected radio access network the method further comprises the step of searching and switching to a base station "BS" of the radio access network indicated by said desired radio access network indication. - maintaining a list of frequency bands "LFB" assigned to at least one cellular network, - determining at least one network identification criterion relating to a cellular network "CN", - determining a list of candidate frequency bands from the list of frequency bands "LFB" considering said at least one network identification criterion, by selecting only those frequency bands which are assigned to the cellular network relating to the at least one network identification criterion, and - conducting a frequency band scan considering said list of candidate frequency bands, wherein determining the at least one network identification criterion comprises receiving from one of the plurality of base stations "BS" at least one system information block comprising a plurality of system information items, said at least one system information block comprising a system information item comprising a network identification criterion, wherein the cellular network "CN" comprises at least one radio access network comprising a base station "BS", wherein the list of frequency bands "LFB" comprises an indication of the respective radio access network, wherein determining the list of candidate frequency bands comprises considering a selected radio access network, wherein the selected radio access network is derived from a convenience order of radio access networks for conducting a frequency band search, and wherein the user equipment maintains a desired radio access network identification, wherein in case the radio access network indicated by the desired radio access network indication differs from the selected radio access network the method further comprises the step of searching and switching to a base station "BS" of the radio access network indicated by said desired radio access network indication. wherein determining the at least one network identification criterion comprises receiving from one of the plurality of base stations "BS" at least one system information block comprising a plurality of system information items, said at least one system information block comprising a system information item comprising a network identification criterion, wherein the cellular network "CN" comprises at least one radio access network comprising a base station "BS", wherein the list of frequency bands "LFB" comprises an indication of the respective radio access network, wherein determining the list of candidate frequency bands comprises considering a selected radio access network, wherein the selected radio access network is derived from a convenience order of radio access networks for conducting a frequency band search, and wherein the user equipment maintains a desired radio access network identification, wherein in case the radio access network indicated by the desired radio access network indication differs from the selected radio access network the method further comprises the step of searching and switching to a base station "BS" of the radio access network indicated by said desired radio access network indication.