Patent ID: 6901256

Claim:
A telecommunications network comprising: a first telecommunications cell having a first plurality of antennas oriented for subdividing the first cell into a plurality of sectors, each sector having first and second antennas positioned therein, a first base station coupled with the first antenna in each of the sectors for controlling wireless communication in the cell at a first frequency for handling traffic on the first frequency, and a second base station coupled with the second antenna in each of the sectors for controlling wireless communication in the cell at a second frequency for handling traffic on the second frequency; and a second telecommunications cell adjacent the first cell and having a second plurality of antennas oriented for subdividing the second cell into a plurality of sectors, each sector having first and second antennas positioned therein, and a third base station coupled with the first antenna in each of the sectors for controlling wireless communication at the first frequency for handling traffic on the first frequency, and coupled with the second antenna in each of the sectors for operating at the second frequency as a pilot beacon for handing off calls to and from the first cell in a soft manner.