What is Ping Pong Handover : Definition, Causes & Effects

Ping Pong Handover is a wireless network issue where a mobile device repeatedly switches between neighboring cells within a short period. This unnecessary handover behavior increases signaling overhead, reduces network efficiency, degrades user experience and can negatively impact call quality and data performance. This page explains ping pong handover (HO) basics and its root cause.

As a mobile device moves from its serving cell to another cell (the target cell), the ongoing call needs to be transferred to the target cell. This transfer process is known as handover (or handoff).

The Problem: Ping Pong Handover

Ping pong handover occurs in areas where the hysteresis margin (the difference in signal strength required to trigger a handover) isn’t properly defined between potential serving cells.

In these zones, during ping pong HO, traffic will shift back and forth between two or more cells until the mobile device finally settles on the intended candidate cell.

Essentially, the mobile keeps switching between cells repeatedly. In this type of ping pong HO, the mobile will usually perform around 5 handovers in each direction before finally settling on the new cell.

Why is Ping Pong Handover Bad?

This rapid switching leads to a significant increase in signaling load, by a factor of approximately 5.

As a result:

• The potential for dropped calls increases.
• Overall call quality degrades.