A user equipment comprising a radio frequency communication interface , a memory and a controller , said user equipment being serviced by a servicing cell , wherein said controller is configured for detecting a neighbouring cell for a possible handover, wherein said controller is configured to: attempt to detect a signal over a radio frequency; determine if a signal is received over said radio frequency, and, if so, determine a detected cell based on said signal being received over said radio frequency and identify said detected cell as the neighbouring cell for a possible handover; and, if not, increase an attempt counter, said attempt counter indicating a number of attempts to detect a signal over said radio frequency; determine whether said attempt counter equals a maximum number of attempts and if so, determine that no cell is present on said radio frequency; and, if not attempt to detect a signal over a radio frequency again; said user equipment being characterised in that said maximum number of attempts is associated with a network environment parameter, wherein said network environment parameter is associated with a previous signal level received from a neighbouring cell at a previous cell detection, and wherein said network environment parameter is associated with a location, said location corresponding to a neighbouring cell. attempt to detect a signal over a radio frequency; determine if a signal is received over said radio frequency, and, if so, determine a detected cell based on said signal being received over said radio frequency and identify said detected cell as the neighbouring cell for a possible handover; and, determine a detected cell based on said signal being received over said radio frequency and identify said detected cell as the neighbouring cell for a possible handover; and, if not, increase an attempt counter, said attempt counter indicating a number of attempts to detect a signal over said radio frequency; determine whether said attempt counter equals a maximum number of attempts and if so, determine that no cell is present on said radio frequency; and, if not attempt to detect a signal over a radio frequency again; said user equipment being characterised in that said maximum number of attempts is associated with a network environment parameter, wherein said network environment parameter is associated with a previous signal level received from a neighbouring cell at a previous cell detection, and wherein said network environment parameter is associated with a location, said location corresponding to a neighbouring cell. increase an attempt counter, said attempt counter indicating a number of attempts to detect a signal over said radio frequency; determine whether said attempt counter equals a maximum number of attempts and if so, determine that no cell is present on said radio frequency; and, if not attempt to detect a signal over a radio frequency again; said user equipment being characterised in that said maximum number of attempts is associated with a network environment parameter, wherein said network environment parameter is associated with a previous signal level received from a neighbouring cell at a previous cell detection, and wherein said network environment parameter is associated with a location, said location corresponding to a neighbouring cell. <EOS>