Patent ID: 8238976

Claim:
A base station arrangement for a cellular communication system, the base station arrangement comprising: a plurality of antennas with each antenna of the plurality of antennas having a different coverage area; base station means operable to operate in a sectorised mode and a non-sectorised mode; and switching means for switching the base station means between the sectorised mode and the non-sectorised mode; wherein the base station means is arranged to provide an individual broadcast control carrier to each antenna of the plurality of antennas when in the sectorised mode thereby supporting a plurality of cells each having a coverage area of a corresponding antenna of the plurality of antennas; and to provide a common broadcast carrier to all antennas of the plurality of antennas when in the non-sectorised mode thereby supporting a single cell having a coverage area corresponding to a combined coverage area of the plurality of antennas.