The process of maintaining connectivity while moving between cells.
A defining feature of mobile networks is their ability to provide continuous service to users who are on the move. This is made possible by a process called handoff or handover. As a mobile device, like a smartphone, moves through a cellular network, the strength of the signal it receives from its current base station will weaken, while the signal from a neighboring base station will strengthen. The network continuously monitors these signal strengths. When the signal from the current base station drops below a certain threshold and the signal from a neighboring station is sufficiently strong, the network initiates a handoff. The goal is to seamlessly transfer the user's connection (whether it's a voice call or a data session) from the old base station to the new one without any noticeable interruption to the user. There are two main types of handoff. A hard handoff is a 'break-before-make' process, where the connection to the old base station is terminated before the connection to the new one is established. This can cause a very brief interruption. A soft handoff is a 'make-before-break' process, where the mobile device temporarily connects to both the old and the new base station simultaneously. Once the connection to the new station is stable, the connection to the old one is dropped. This provides a smoother transition but requires more network resources. The efficiency and reliability of the handoff process are critical for the user's quality of experience in a mobile network.