Patent ID: 8538420

Claim:
A system operative to optimize usage of wireless base stations servicing at least two operators, comprising: N wireless base stations deployed across a predetermined area, the wireless base stations operative to provide at least partial wireless cellular coverage in the predetermined area using a first radio band belonging to a first operator, wherein: (i) at least K wireless base stations, out the N wireless base stations, are also operative to provide wireless cellular coverage using a second radio band located substantially in the 700 MHz to 1 GHz range belonging to a second operator, (ii) K<N, and (iii) the first radio band is located in higher band than the second radio band, resulting in the second radio band having a better reach and better coverage than the first radio band, thereby allowing use of the second radio band in delivering at least a predetermined level of wireless cellular service to subscriber stations located substantially out of coverage area of the first radio band; wherein the system is configured to enhance a level of wireless cellular service provided by the first operator, by causing subscriber stations associated with the first operator to roam into the second radio band when out of range of the first radio band.