US Patent 10194354 Availability based network selection

A control element of a first wireless communication network, such as a mobility management entity, determines that a wireless device is being served by a second wireless communication network. The control element also receives an indicator associated with the availability of a base station in the first wireless communication network to serve the wireless device. Based on the indicator, the control element initiates a handover of the wireless device from the second wireless communication network to the first wireless communication network. The control element may also initiates a handover of the wireless device based on the indicator and based on a signal strength reported by the wireless device.