Capability indication

Abstract

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus (110) configured to receive, from a base station (130), information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station on at least one frequency band (410), compose a user equipment capability information defining channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus (420), wherein some and not all channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus on the at least one frequency band are defined, wherein the apparatus is configured to select the channel bandwidth capabilities to include in the user equipment capability information based at least in part on the information defining the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station, and transmit the composed user equipment channel capability information to the base station (430).

Description

CAPABILITY INDICATIONFIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of cellular communications.BACKGROUND

[0002] Cellular communication networks comprise plural cells, wherein the number of cells may range from a few cells in localized networks to thousands of cells in nationwide networks. To access the network, a user equipment, UE, attaches to the network and communicates via one or more cell at a time.

[0003] Base stations, BSs, which control cells of the cellular communication network provide information concerning the network and their cells, for example in broadcast system information blocks. UEs interested in attaching to a network may receive broadcasted system information to assess, whether attachment to the network appears feasible.SUMMARY

[0004] According to some aspects, there is provided the subject-matter of the independent claims. Some embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. The scope of protection sought for various embodiments of the invention is set out by the independent claims. The embodiments, examples and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to receive, from a base station, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station on at least one frequency band, compose a user equipment capability information defining channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus, wherein some and not all channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus on the at least one frequency band are defined, wherein the apparatus is configured to select the channel bandwidth capabilities to include in the user equipment capability informationbased at least in part on the information defining the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station, and transmit the composed user equipment channel capability information to the base station.

[0006] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to transmit, in a cell controlled by the apparatus, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths the apparatus supports on at least one frequency band, and receive from a user equipment user equipment capability information which defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment.

[0007] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising receiving, from a base station and by an apparatus, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station on at least one frequency band, composing a user equipment capability information defining channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus, wherein some and not all channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus on the at least one frequency band are defined, wherein the channel bandwidth capabilities selected to include in the user equipment capability information are selected based at least in part on the information defining the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station, and transmitting the composed user equipment channel capability information to the base station.

[0008] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising transmitting, in a cell controlled by the apparatus, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths the apparatus supports on at least one frequency band, and receiving from a user equipment user equipment capability information which defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment.

[0009] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non- transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least receive, from a base station, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station on at least one frequency band, compose a user equipment capability information defining channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus, wherein some and not all channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus on the at least one frequency band are defined, wherein the apparatus is configured to select the channel bandwidth capabilities to include in the user equipment capability information based at least in part on the information defining the plurality of channelbandwidths supported by the base station, and transmit the composed user equipment channel capability information to the base station.

[0010] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non- transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least transmit, in a cell controlled by the apparatus, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths the apparatus supports on at least one frequency band, receive from a user equipment user equipment capability information which defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment.

[0011] According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for receiving, from a base station and by an apparatus, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station on at least one frequency band, composing a user equipment capability information defining channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus, wherein some and not all channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus on the at least one frequency band are defined, wherein the channel bandwidth capabilities selected to include in the user equipment capability information are selected based at least in part on the information defining the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station, and transmitting the composed user equipment channel capability information to the base station.

[0012] According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for transmitting, in a cell controlled by the apparatus, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths the apparatus supports on at least one frequency band, and receiving from a user equipment user equipment capability information which defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIGURE 1 illustrates an example system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0014] FIGURE 2A illustrates an example information element in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0015] FIGURE 2B illustrates an example UE capability information in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0016] FIGURE 3 illustrates an example apparatus capable of supporting at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0017] FIGURE 4 illustrates signalling in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0018] FIGURE 5 is a flow graph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention, and

[0019] FIGURE 6 is a signalling example in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention.EMBODIMENTS

[0020] UEs are configured to provide UE capability information to a base station in connection with attaching to the network. In various systems the UE capability information may comprise several different types of UE capabilities, wherein one type of UE capability that may be provided is a channel bandwidth, BW, capability of the UE. The provided channel BW capability may be referred to as a channel BW combination capability. Overall, channel bandwidth capabilities of the UE inform the network of channel bandwidths the UE can support in at least one, and in some cases at least two or at least three, frequency bands. The frequency band may be defined as the frequency range of the 5G New Radio specifications. Currently, the 5GNew Radio supports following frequency ranges (FR): FR1 from 410 to 7125 MHz, FR2 from 24250 to 52600 MHz. The number of FRs may change as the standard is developed further. Non-terrestrial networks, NTN, may have unique FR(s). Alternatively, the frequency band may be defined as a frequency band within such a frequency range. Each FR may be divided into a plurality of frequency bands. Different network operators may be allocated to different frequency bands within each FR, and an operator may employ zero to multiple frequency bands per FR. The network may advertise the frequency band(s) it supports in downlink broadcast signalling.

[0021] A channel may be a physical channel, and it may be defined through capabilities of the network and / or system specifications to establish the physical channel fora UE within the frequency band. A maximum carrier bandwidth defined in the system specifications may define limits for the physical channel, e.g. the maximum carrier bandwidth on a band may be 100 MHz, thus limiting the physical channel to be within the carrier bandwidth. Some frequency bands may be specified to provide a smaller maximum bandwidth, or different cells may have different capabilities in terms of maximum carrier bandwidth. A cell may cover a frequency band with multiple adjacent narrow-band component carriers or by a single wideband component carrier.

[0022] As UE capabilities grow more diverse and frequency bands more numerous, the information quantity of UE channel bandwidth combination capabilities tends to increase. To control the quantity of channel bandwidth capability information that the UE needs to provide to a base station, the base station may be configured to indicate the channel bandwidths it supports, and the UE may then select from among its actual channel bandwidth capabilities the ones to indicate to the network, such the UE can choose to not inform the network of channel bandwidths it supports but the network does not support. A technical benefit is thus obtained in decreased uplink signalling burden.

[0023] FIGURE 1 illustrates an example system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. This system includes base stations 130, 135 in communication with UEs, such as UE 110. A radio link connects base station 130 with UE 110, The radio link may be bidirectional, comprising an uplink, UL, to convey information from UE 110 toward base station 130 and a downlink, DL, to convey information from the base station 130 toward UE 110. A cellular communication system may comprise hundreds or thousands of base stations, of which only two are illustrated in FIGURE 1 for the sake of clarity of the illustration. The base stations may be distributed in that they comprise a centralized unit, CU, and one or more distributed unit, DU.

[0024] Base station 130 is further coupled communicatively with core network node 140, which may comprise, for example, a mobility management entity, MME, or access and mobility management function, AMF. The core network node 140 may be coupled with further core network nodes, and with a network 150, which may comprise the Internet or a corporate network, for example. The system may communicate with further networks via network 150. Examples of the further core network nodes, which are not illustrated in FIGURE 1 for the sake of clarity, include gateways and subscriber information repositories. Core network nodes may be virtualized in the sense that they may run as software modules oncomputing substrates, such that more than one virtualized network node may run on a same computing substrate. The network may be configured to function in accordance with a suitable cellular standard such as long term evolution, LTE, fifth generation, 5G, which is also known as New Radio, NR, or sixth generation, 6G standards as defined by the the 3rdgeneration partnership project, 3GPP. To obtain interoperation, UEs attaching to the network are configured to support a same standard as the network.

[0025] Base station 130 controls, in the example of FIGURE 1 cells 130A and 130B, of which UE 110 is in the situation illustrated in FIGURE 1 attached with cell 130A, and base station 135 controls, in the example of FIGURE 1, cells 135A and 135B. The number of cells, or beams, may be in excess of what is illustrated in FIGURE 1. It is also possible that a base station has a single cell or beam. While illustrated as sector-shaped, cells of a same base station may be omnidirectional and operate on different frequencies, for example. A mobility event may comprise a switch from one beam to another beam of the same cell, or a switch from one cell to another cell. To support mobility procedures, UEs, including UE 110, are configured to conduct mobility measurements to measure signal strengths of adjacent beams and / or cells, and report results of these measurements to the network, which may then take a decision concerning a mobility event, such as a beam change or a cell switch.

[0026] A UE, such as UE 110, may connect to the network simultaneously using more than one carrier using carrier aggregation, CA. In carrier aggregation, the UE uses two or more carriers to one or more than one base station at the same time. The carriers so used are referred to as component carriers, which may be located in the frequency domain on a same frequency band, or different frequency bands. In case different frequency bands are used, the CA may be referred to as inter-band CA. When the same band is used, the CA may be referred to as intra-band CA. Using CA a data throughput in downlink and / or uplink may be substantially increased, compared to only using a single carrier at a time.

[0027] UEs may differ as to the channel bandwidths they can support in different frequency bands. Reasons for this include that data from different frequency bands requires differing processing steps in the UE, and a UE overall has only limited processing capability. Furthermore, using CA, relatively high communication bandwidths may be obtained using a limited set of channel bandwidths, since plural carriers may be established. Plural simultaneous carriers involve plural control information overheads and processing loads, wherefore a UE may not be capable of supporting maximum bandwidths in plural carriers,for example at the same time. As using the maximum channel bandwidth on each carrier at the same time in CA may be unfeasible, UEs may be configured to support a number of smaller channel bandwidths in addition the maximum one. Smaller channel bandwidths may be used also for single-carrier communication sessions with lower bandwidth needs.

[0028] For example, a UE may support a 100 MHz channel bandwidth separately in two frequency bands, however when using carriers on these frequency bands at the same time, this UE may be unable to support a 100MHz channel bandwidth on both frequency bands at the same time, and a 50 MHz channel bandwidth, for example, may be used on one of the frequency bands instead since the UE cannot process two simultaneous 100 MHz channels. In general, as a number component carriers in CA increases there may be a need for the UE to use lower channel bandwidth than the carrier bandwidth to have optimized aggregated bandwidth over all advertised band combinations.

[0029] Overall, the UE may be prepared for a fairly large number of possible channel bandwidths lower than a carrier bandwidth. This has the effect that the size of a UE capability information element that the UE provides to the network to inform the network of channel bandwidths the UE supports in various frequency bands may significantly increase. Radio resource control, RRC, signaling may be used to convey such a UE capability information element to the base station. Another problem related to the issue of a high number of supported channel bandwidth combinations is that in practice base stations may be unable to support all possible channel bandwidths in light of limitations of schedulers running in the base stations.

[0030] The UE may thus be configured to provide, for example during a process which leads to attachment to the network, to the base station band parameters which include UE capability information defining channel bandwidth capabilities of the UE. A channel bandwidth capability of the UE may comprise a channel bandwidth and / or channel bandwidth combinations the UE is configured to support. The UE capability information may comprise at least one channel bandwidth the UE is configured to support on at least one frequency band. In some cases the UE capability information comprises at least one channel bandwidth the UE is configured to support on at least two frequency bands. In some cases the UE capability information comprises at least one bandwidth the UE is configured to support on at least two frequency bands, wherein the UE capability information comprises at least two channel bandwidths on one or more of the at least two frequency bands. In somecases the UE capability information comprises at least two channel bandwidths the UE is configured to support, separately, for at least two frequency bands.

[0031] The process which leads to attachment, which may be referred to as an attachment process, is a process which begins when the UE is not attached to the network, and ends in the UE being attached to the network. The attachment process may comprise messages exchanged between the UE and a base station of the network. These messages may include RRC messages.

[0032] Channel bandwidth capabilities of the UE may be defined in the UE capability information using a channel bandwidth information element, for example. For example, at least one channel bandwidth information element comprised in the UE capability information may indicate the UE supported channel bandwidths for at least two frequency bands. For example, channel bandwidths may be selected from among [5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100] MHz, or from among [50, 100, 200] MHz. For frequency range 1, FR1, in NR bits in a channel bandwidth information element starting from a leading or leftmost bit may be used to indicate support for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60 and / or 80MHz. Respectively for frequency range 1, FR2, in NR bits in a channel bandwidth information element starting from the leading / leftmost bit may be used to indicate support for 50, 100 and / or 200MHz, for example. FR1 includes sub-6 GHz frequency bands and FR2 includes frequency bands from 24.25 GHz to 71.0 GHz. In at least some embodiments in NR, a channel bandwidth information indicates channel bandwidths supported separately for each subcarrier spacing.

[0033] The UE may be configured to express the channel bandwidth information elements using at least one bitmap. Each bit in the bitmap may correspond to a single channel bandwidth in a preconfigured list, such as [5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100] MHz, or [50, 100, 200] MHz, for example. Alternatively to a bitmap, the capability information may comprise definitions of channel bandwidths the UE supports in another form, such as text.

[0034] The UE may be configured to provide separately, in the UE capability information provided during the attachment process, definitions of channel bandwidths the UE supports in the downlink direction and in the uplink direction. The channel bandwidths the UE supports in the uplink need not be the same as in the downlink. In many CA use casesthe downlink is used to a greater extent than the uplink, for example to stream video content or to download large filed of data.

[0035] To reduce a size of the UE capability information provided from the UE to the base station during the attachment process, the base station may be configured to advertise at least a subset of channel bandwidths it supports in a message it provides, such as system information, SI, message, for example. The base station may provide this information separately for both uplink and downlink, or only for the downlink. The UE may reduce the number of channel bandwidth combinations is indicates it supports accordingly, and still achieve a suitable optimized aggregated bandwidth over component carriers during subsequent CA, for example. In particular, the UE may be configured to select the channel bandwidth capabilities to define in the user equipment capability information based at least in part on the information, received from the base station, defining the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station.

[0036] The information on channel bandwidths provided by the base station may be provided, for example, in a structure such as a ChannelBWs-DL information element, as specified by the 3GPP. In such an information element, one supported channel bandwidth may be represented by one bit in bitmap, such as a bit string. The bit string may include a few additional bits to be used for possible new channel bandwidths which may be added in the future.

[0037] Additionally, the system information transmitted by the base station may comprise at least one information element comprising information concerning the frequency band or frequency bands used by the base station. The information on the channel bandwidths may then be provided per frequency band used by the base station. In case of multiple frequency bands, the base station may send multiple pieces or sets of information on the channel bandwidths, one piece or set per frequency band.

[0038] Although discussed herein primarily as being provided to the base station during the attachment process, in at least some embodiments the UE capability information defining channel BW capabilities of the UE may be provided from the UE to the network outside of the attachment process.

[0039] The UE may thus determine which ones from among the channel bandwidths the UE can support are also supported by the base station, and report to the base station onlythose channel bandwidths supported by the UE which are also supported by the base station. By excluding reporting of at least some of the channel bandwidths or even all channel bandwidths not supported by the base station, a size of the uplink UE capability information message is reduced, resulting in a reduced signaling burden, reduced battery consumption in the UE and reduced interference in the network. In some embodiments, the UE is configured to only indicate to the base station a subset, and not all, of the channel bandwidths supported by both the UE and the base station. The logic may be that the UE shall report a number (subset) of channel bandwidths that is deemed to provide sufficient flexibility to the base station when selecting a channel combination for the UE. The number may be systemspecific or signalled by the base station to the UE. This variant yields a further reduced UE capability information message.

[0040] FIGURE 2A illustrates an example information element in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. The information element is provided by the base station to indicate channel bandwidths supported by the base station, on the frequency band on which the base station operates. While one information element is illustrated, it is to be understood that the base station may provide separate information elements, or indications, for downlink and uplink channel bandwidths. The base station may, further or alternatively, provide separate information elements for different subcarrier spacings.

[0041] Information element 210, which may be a bitmap, comprises plural indicators 220, each indicator indicating support or lack of support, by the base station sending information element 210, for a specific channel bandwidth. Indicators 220 may be single bits, modulation symbols or other suitable indicators. In the example of FIGURE 2A, a cross in an indicator 220 indicates the base station does support the corresponding channel bandwidth. Channel bandwidths corresponding to indicators 220 not having crosses are not indicated as being supported.

[0042] The base station may provide information element 210 in a system information block, which the base statin may transmit as a broadcast transmission in a cell controlled by the base station. By a broadcast transmission it is herein meant a transmission not addressed to any particular recipient node.

[0043] In some embodiments, the base station indicates to the UE, for example in broadcasted system information signalling, a first plurality of channel bandwidths the basestation is configured to support on a first carrier and a second plurality of channel bandwidths the base station is configured to support on, or through, a second carrier operating on a different frequency band than the first carrier. Thus the base station may, for example, indicate channel bandwidths supported in a neighbouring cell, controlled by a different base station and operating on a different frequency band. The base station may learn which channel bandwidths the different base station supports by receiving indications thereof over an inter-base station interface, for example. An Xn interface is an example of an inter-base station interface.

[0044] FIGURE 2B illustrates an example UE capability information in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. This UE capability information comprises information elements 230, 250, which may be bitmaps, and is provided from the UE to the base station, for example during the attachment process. Here information element 230 with indicators 222 provides channel bandwidth capability information of the UE on a first frequency band and information element 250 with indicators 224 provides channel bandwidth capability information of the UE on a second frequency band. The first frequency band is the same one that the base station which transmits information element 210 of FIGURE 2A operates on, while the second frequency band is different from the first frequency band and not overlapping with the first frequency band. Crosses in indicators 222 and 224 FIGURE 2B relate to channel bandwidths which are indicated as supported by the UE in the UE capability information, while circles in FIGURE 2B in indicators 222 and 224 relate to channel bandwidths which the UE supports but which the UE does not indicate to the base station that it supports.

[0045] As may be seen in FIGURES 2A and 2B, the UE indicates as supported at most the channel bandwidths which the base station has previously indicated that it in turn supports. Many supported channel bandwidth combinations of the UE remain un-indicated as supported and the base station will not learn the UE in fact does support them, however this does not materially impair function as the UE can anyway only use the channel bandwidths which are also supported by the base station. Further, as may be seen from FIGURE 2B, the UE is in fact configured to support a different sets of channel bandwidths in the first and the second frequency bands.

[0046] To conserve energy in transmission, bitmaps may be truncated to include only bits up until the last channel bandwidth indicated as supported, for example. When morecomplex indications than bitmaps are used for indication, energy is saved by transmitting only indications concerning the supported channel bandwidths.

[0047] For example, the UE may determine its initial channel bandwidth in a cell based on the system information block 1, SIB1, signalling, and may be later provided with a dedicated channel bandwidth based on the list of UE-supported channel bandwidths in the UE capability information. However, UE may be ignorant of the exact channel bandwidth used by the network, which may lead to difficulties in adapting its used channel bandwidth.

[0048] The dedicated channel bandwidth, CBW, was originally meant for the case when a UE supports only a smaller channel bandwidth than what is supported by the network, as a means to precisely adapt the UE CBW to a network-desired value. However, it has been specified in 3GPP so that it can also apply to a larger channel bandwidth assuming that the physical resource block 0, PRB0, stays the same, that is, SIB1 and dedicated CBW use the same offset from pointA and follow the same PRB raster.

[0049] A UE may start using CORESET#0 bandwidth until Msg4 of a random access process, after which UE may start using either a dedicated CBW (if signalled) or the SIB1 CBW. A CORESE is a physical resource that is used to transmit a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, and / or downlink control information, DCI. A UE may already know the SIB1 CBW based on SIB1 reception and can adapt its CBW based on the initial BWP size. A UE camping on a cell autonomously adapts its so that it meets two conditions: firstly, the CBW contains the initial BWP, and secondly, the CBW is contained within the SIB1 CBW.

[0050] A UE may adapt its CBW to contain the BWP, which may be smaller than the SIB1 CBW. Many UE capabilities may also be indirectly impacted by the channel bandwidth: a UE may indicate a supported bandwidth in feature set per component carrier, FSPC, fashion, that is, different feature sets per-CC may support different amounts of bandwidth due to UE processing limitations.

[0051] The supported bandwidth may depend on the used carrier combination, that is, CA band combination. As the number component carriers increases, there is a need for the UE to use lower channel bandwidth than the carrier bandwidth in order to have optimized aggregated bandwidth over all advertised band combinations. This also means that the UE indicating all of its capabilities to the network would create considerably more signalling, or alternatively force the UE to restrict its capabilities to a specific set of commonly usedchannel bandwidths. In any case networks do not support all possible channel bandwidths, so many of the UE’s channel bandwidth capabilities may be unnecessary for the network.

[0052] The network may be unable to use all UE channel bandwidth capabilities. One solution to this is to allow the network to advertise its used channel bandwidths in system information, or at least in a dedicted UECapabilityEnquiry-message. That is, the UE would the know the supported network channel bandwidths and could 1) use only those when adapting its CBW to match the SIB1 CBW and 2) prune out all channel bandwidths from UE capability information that are not used in practice in the network , and thus reduce the size of transmitted FeatureSets.

[0053] Based on the above, signalling may be provided to allow the network to indicate its supported channel bandwidths to UE, as described herein above. This may be accomplished using, for example, a same structure as in UE capabilities (that is, ChannelBWs-DL and ChannelBWs-UL as defined in 3 GPP) could be reused in the signalling, these structures being already optimized in terms of size since they are implemented as bit strings. The simplest option would be to include those structures in the SIB1, or another SI block, or then add a capability request filter that tells the UE to prune out specific channel bandwidths from UW capability information. From a network viewpoint, SIB1 may be simpler since it can apply to all UEs equally is not difficult to implement in UEs. Thus, for example, this signalling of network-supported channel bandwidths may be added to SIB1. An example of such signalling is illustrated in FIGURE 6.

[0054] FIGURE 3 illustrates an example apparatus capable of supporting at least some embodiments of the present invention. Illustrated is device 300, which may comprise, for example, a mobile communication device such as UE 110 of FIGURE 1. Alternatively, in applicable parts device 300 may correspond to a base station, such as base station 130 of FIGURE 1. Comprised in device 300 is processor 310, which may comprise, for example, a single- or multi-core processor wherein a single-core processor comprises one processing core and a multi-core processor comprises more than one processing core. Processor 310 may comprise, in general, a control device. Processor 310 may comprise more than one processor. When processor 310 comprises more than one processor, device 300 may be a distributed device wherein processing of tasks takes place in more than one physical unit. Processor 310 may be a control device. A processing core may comprise, for example, aCortex-A8 processing core manufactured by ARM Holdings or a Zen processing core designed by Advanced Micro Devices Corporation. A processing core or processor may be, or may comprise, at least one qubit. Processor 310 may comprise at least one Qualcomm Snapdragon and / or Intel Atom processor. Processor 310 may comprise at least one application-specific integrated circuit, ASIC. Processor 310 may comprise at least one field- programmable gate array, FPGA. Processor 310, optionally together with memory and computer instructions, may be means for performing method steps in device 300, such as receiving, composing, selecting, transmitting and including. Processor 310 may be configured, at least in part by computer instructions, to perform actions.

[0055] A processor may comprise circuitry, or be constituted as circuitry or circuitries, the circuitry or circuitries being configured to perform phases of methods in accordance with embodiments described herein. As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analogue and / or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as, as applicable: (i) a combination of analogue and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or base station, to perform various functions) and (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0056] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0057] Device 300 may comprise memory 320. Memory 320 may comprise randomaccess memory and / or permanent memory. Memory 320 may comprise at least one RAM chip. Memory 320 may be a computer readable medium. Memory 320 may comprise solid-state, magnetic, optical and / or holographic memory, for example. Memory 320 may be at least in part accessible to processor 310. Memory 320 may be at least in part comprised in processor 310. Memory 320 may be means for storing information. Memory 320 may comprise computer instructions that processor 310 is configured to execute. When computer instructions configured to cause processor 310 to perform certain actions are stored in memory 320, and device 300 overall is configured to run under the direction of processor 310 using computer instructions from memory 320, processor 310 and / or its at least one processing core may be considered to be configured to perform said certain actions. Memory 320 may be at least in part external to device 300 but accessible to device 300. Memory 320 may be transitory or non-transitory. The term “non-transitory”, as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (that is, tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (for example, RAM vs. ROM).

[0058] Device 300 may comprise a transmitter 330. Device 300 may comprise a receiver 340. Transmitter 330 and receiver 340 may be configured to transmit and receive, respectively, information in accordance with at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. Transmitter 330 may comprise more than one transmitter. Receiver 340 may comprise more than one receiver. Transmitter 330 and / or receiver 340 may be configured to operate in accordance with global system for mobile communication, GSM, wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA, 5G, long term evolution, LTE, IS-95, wireless local area network, WLAN, Ethernet and / or worldwide interoperability for microwave access, WiMAX, standards, for example.

[0059] Device 300 may comprise a near-field communication, NFC, transceiver 350. NFC transceiver 350 may support at least one NFC technology, such as NFC, Bluetooth, Wibree or similar technologies.

[0060] Device 300 may comprise user interface, UI, 360. UI 360 may comprise at least one of a display, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a vibrator arranged to signal to a user by causing device 300 to vibrate, a speaker or a microphone. A user may be able to operate device 300 via UI 360, for example to accept incoming telephone calls, to originate telephone calls or video calls, to browse the Internet, to manage digital files stored in memory 320 or on a cloud accessible via transmitter 330 and receiver 340, or via NFC transceiver 350, and / or to play games.

[0061] Device 300 may comprise or be arranged to accept a user identity module 370. User identity module 370 may comprise, for example, a subscriber identity module, SIM, card installable in device 300. A user identity module 370 may comprise information identifying a subscription of a user of device 300. A user identity module 370 may comprise cryptographic information usable to verify the identity of a user of device 300 and / or to facilitate encryption of communicated information and billing of the user of device 300 for communication effected via device 300.

[0062] Processor 310 may be furnished with a transmitter arranged to output information from processor 310, via electrical leads internal to device 300, to other devices comprised in device 300. Such a transmitter may comprise a serial bus transmitter arranged to, for example, output information via at least one electrical lead to memory 320 for storage therein. Alternatively to a serial bus, the transmitter may comprise a parallel bus transmitter. Likewise processor 310 may comprise a receiver arranged to receive information in processor 310, via electrical leads internal to device 300, from other devices comprised in device 300. Such a receiver may comprise a serial bus receiver arranged to, for example, receive information via at least one electrical lead from receiver 340 for processing in processor 310. Alternatively to a serial bus, the receiver may comprise a parallel bus receiver.

[0063] Device 300 may comprise further devices not illustrated in FIGURE 3. For example, where device 300 comprises a smartphone, it may comprise at least one digital camera. Some devices 300 may comprise a back-facing camera and a front-facing camera, wherein the back-facing camera may be intended for digital photography and the frontfacing camera for video telephony. Device 300 may comprise a fingerprint sensor arranged to authenticate, at least in part, a user of device 300. In some embodiments, device 300 lacks at least one device described above. For example, some devices 300 may lack a NFC transceiver 350 and / or user identity module 370.

[0064] Processor 310, memory 320, transmitter 330, receiver 340, NFC transceiver 350, UI 360 and / or user identity module 370 may be interconnected by electrical leads internal to device 300 in a multitude of different ways. For example, each of the aforementioned devices may be separately connected to a master bus internal to device 300, to allow for the devices to exchange information. However, as the skilled person will appreciate, this is only one example and depending on the embodiment various ways ofinterconnecting at least two of the aforementioned devices may be selected without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0065] FIGURE 4 illustrates signalling in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. On the vertical axes are disposed, on the left, UE 110 of FIGURE 1, and on the right, base station 130 of FIGURE 1. Time advances from the top toward the bottom.

[0066] Before phase 410, UE 110 is not attached to the network wherein base station 130 is comprised. In phase 410, base station 130 provides to UE 110 the information defining the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station on at least one frequency band, including at least the frequency band on which base station 130 operates. As described herein above, this information may be provided in a broadcasted system information block, but it may also be provided as a response to a request for this information from UE 110. In some embodiments, this information is provided in a coverage area of a cell controlled by the base station, using another radio access technology than the one the base station uses to control the cell.

[0067] In phase 420, UE 110 composes the user equipment capability information which defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the UE, in particular it defines which channel bandwidths the UE supports on one or more than one frequency band. Some and not all actual channel bandwidth capabilities of the UE on the at least one frequency band are defined in the user equipment capability information, wherein the UE is configured to select the channel bandwidth capabilities to include in the user equipment capability information based at least in part on the information defining the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station, received from the base station in phase 410. Thus a part of the true channel bandwidth capabilities of the UE will remain un-reported in the UE capability information composed in phase 420.

[0068] In phase 430, UE 110 transmits the user equipment capability information composed in phase 420 to base station 130. In phase 440 UE 110 and base station 130 exchange further messages comprised in the attachment process, which results eventually, phase 450, in attachment of UE 110 to the network in which base station 130 is comprised.

[0069] FIGURE 5 is a flow graph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. The phases of the illustrated method may beperformed in UE 110, or in a control device, such as processor or chipset, configured to control the functioning of UE 110, when installed therein.

[0070] Phase 510 comprises receiving, from a base station and by an apparatus, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station on at least one frequency band. Phase 520 comprises composing a user equipment capability information defining channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus, wherein some and not all channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus on the at least one frequency band are defined, wherein the channel bandwidth capabilities selected to include in the user equipment capability information are selected based at least in part on the information defining the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station. Finally, phase 530 comprises transmitting the composed user equipment channel capability information to the base station.

[0071] According to an aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a base station, a system information block defining a plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station on at least one frequency band operated by the base station; compose user equipment capability information defining channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus within the at least one of the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station, wherein the apparatus is further configured to use the received plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station to exclude from the user equipment capability information at least one channel bandwidth not supported by the base station, and transmit the composed user equipment channel capability information to the base station.

[0072] In an embodiment, the apparatus is configured to use the received plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station to omit all channel bandwidths not supported by the base station from the user equipment capability information.

[0073] In an embodiment, the apparatus is configured to compose the user equipment capability information defining the channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus into the same format as a format in which the system information block comprises the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station. The format of the user equipment capability information defining the channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus and the format in which the system information block comprises the plurality of channel bandwidthssupported by the base station is a bitmap where each bit indicates in a binary manner whether or not the particular channel bandwidth is supported.

[0074] In an embodiment, the system information block further comprises other information related to cellular access with the base station. Such information may include at least one of the following: a public land mobile network (PLMN) identity list, PLMN identity, tracking area code, cell identity, or cell status.

[0075] In an embodiment, the system information block defines the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station for a plurality of different frequency ranges, each frequency range covering a plurality of frequency bands, and wherein the user equipment capability information defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus for the plurality of different frequency ranges. For each frequency range, there may be at least one bit string indicating channel bandwidth capabilities for a plurality of channel bandwidths within the particular frequency range.

[0076] In an embodiment, the system information block defines the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station for a plurality of different sub-carrier spacings, and wherein the user equipment capability information defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus for the plurality of different sub-carrier spacings. For each subcarrier spacing, there may be at least one bit string indicating channel bandwidth capabilities for a plurality of channel bandwidths for the particular sub-carrier spacing.

[0077] In an embodiment, the system information block defines the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station for a plurality of different sub-carrier spacings and for a plurality of different frequency ranges, and wherein the user equipment capability information defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus for the plurality of different combinations of the sub-carrier spacings and the frequency ranges. For each combination of the sub-carrier spacing and the frequency range, there may be at least one bit string indicating channel bandwidth capabilities for a plurality of channel bandwidths for the particular combination of the sub-carrier spacing and the frequency range.

[0078] In an embodiment, the apparatus is a user equipment, or is configured to be installed in a user equipment as a control device thereof.

[0079] In an embodiment, the apparatus is configured to operate according to a cellular communication standard.

[0080] According to an aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit, in a cell controlled by the apparatus, a system information block defining a plurality of channel bandwidths the apparatus supports on at least one frequency band; receive from a user equipment user equipment capability information which defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipmentand which excludes at least one channel bandwidth not supported by the apparatus.

[0081] In an embodiment, all channel bandwidths not supported by the base station have been excluded from the received user equipment capability information. This reduces the processing burden in the base station.

[0082] In an embodiment, the user equipment capability information defining the channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment is in the same format as the format in which the system information block comprises the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station. The format of the user equipment capability information defining the channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment and the format in which the system information block comprises the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station is a bitmap where each bit indicates in a binary manner whether or not the particular channel bandwidth is supported.

[0083] In an embodiment, the system information block further comprises other information related to cellular access with the base station. Such information may include at least one of the following: a public land mobile network (PLMN) identity list, PLMN identity, tracking area code, cell identity, or cell status.

[0084] In an embodiment, the system information block defines the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station for a plurality of different frequency ranges, each frequency range covering a plurality of frequency bands, and wherein the user equipment capability information defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment for the plurality of different frequency ranges. For each frequency range, there may be at least one bit string indicating channel bandwidth capabilities for a plurality of channel bandwidths within the particular frequency range.

[0085] In an embodiment, the system information block defines the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station for a plurality of different sub-carrier spacings, and wherein the user equipment capability information defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment for the plurality of different sub-carrier spacings. For each sub-carrier spacing, there may be at least one bit string indicating channel bandwidth capabilities for a plurality of channel bandwidths for the particular sub-carrier spacing.

[0086] In an embodiment, the system information block defines the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station for a plurality of different sub-carrier spacings and for a plurality of different frequency ranges, and wherein the user equipment capability information defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment for the plurality of different combinations of the sub-carrier spacings and the frequency ranges. For each combination of the sub-carrier spacing and the frequency range, there may be at least one bit string indicating channel bandwidth capabilities for a plurality of channel bandwidths for the particular combination of the sub-carrier spacing and the frequency range.

[0087] In an embodiment, the apparatus is the base station, or is configured to be installed in the base station as a control device thereof.

[0088] In an embodiment, the apparatus is configured to operate according to a cellular communication standard.

[0089] According to an aspect, there is provided a method comprising: receiving, from a base station by user equipment, a system information block defining a plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station on at least one frequency band operated by the base station; composing, by the user equipment, user equipment capability information defining channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment within the at least one of the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station, wherein the user equipment further uses the received plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station to exclude from the user equipment capability information at least one channel bandwidth not supported by the base station, and transmitting, by the user equipment, the composed user equipment channel capability information to the base station.

[0090] In an embodiment, the user equipment uses the received plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station to omit all channel bandwidths not supported by the base station from the user equipment capability information.

[0091] In an embodiment, user equipment composes the user equipment capability information defining the channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus into the same format as a format in which the system information block comprises the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station. The format of the user equipment capability information defining the channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus and the format in which the system information block comprises the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station may be a bitmap where each bit indicates in a binary manner whether or not the particular channel bandwidth is supported.

[0092] In an embodiment, the system information block further comprises other information related to cellular access with the base station. Such information may include at least one of the following: a public land mobile network (PLMN) identity list, PLMN identity, tracking area code, cell identity, or cell status.

[0093] In an embodiment, the system information block defines the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station for a plurality of different frequency ranges, each frequency range covering a plurality of frequency bands, and wherein the user equipment capability information defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus for the plurality of different frequency ranges. For each frequency range, there may be at least one bit string indicating channel bandwidth capabilities for a plurality of channel bandwidths within the particular frequency range.

[0094] In an embodiment, the system information block defines the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station for a plurality of different sub-carrier spacings, and wherein the user equipment capability information defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus for the plurality of different sub-carrier spacings. For each subcarrier spacing, there may be at least one bit string indicating channel bandwidth capabilities for a plurality of channel bandwidths for the particular sub-carrier spacing.

[0095] In an embodiment, the system information block defines the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station for a plurality of different sub-carrier spacings and for a plurality of different frequency ranges, and wherein the user equipment capability information defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus for the plurality of different combinations of the sub-carrier spacings and the frequency ranges. For each combination of the sub-carrier spacing and the frequency range, there may be at leastone bit string indicating channel bandwidth capabilities for a plurality of channel bandwidths for the particular combination of the sub-carrier spacing and the frequency range.

[0096] Any one of the methods for the user equipment may be realized by a non- transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus for the user equipment to carry out the method according to any one of the embodiments described in the paragraphs above.

[0097] According to an aspect, there is provided a method comprising: transmitting, by a base station in a cell controlled by the base station, a system information block defining a plurality of channel bandwidths the base station supports on at least one frequency band; receiving, from a user equipment, user equipment capability information which defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment and which excludes at least one channel bandwidth not supported by the base station.

[0098] In an embodiment, all channel bandwidths not supported by the base station have been excluded from the received user equipment capability information. This reduces the processing burden in the base station.

[0099] In an embodiment, the user equipment capability information defining the channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment is in the same format as the format in which the system information block comprises the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station. The format of the user equipment capability information defining the channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment and the format in which the system information block comprises the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station is a bitmap where each bit indicates in a binary manner whether or not the particular channel bandwidth is supported.

[0100] In an embodiment, the system information block further comprises other information related to cellular access with the base station. Such information may include at least one of the following: a public land mobile network (PLMN) identity list, PLMN identity, tracking area code, cell identity, or cell status.

[0101] In an embodiment, the system information block defines the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station for a plurality of different frequency ranges, each frequency range covering a plurality of frequency bands, and wherein the userequipment capability information defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment for the plurality of different frequency ranges. For each frequency range, there may be at least one bit string indicating channel bandwidth capabilities for a plurality of channel bandwidths within the particular frequency range.

[0102] In an embodiment, the system information block defines the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station for a plurality of different sub-carrier spacings, and wherein the user equipment capability information defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment for the plurality of different sub-carrier spacings. For each sub-carrier spacing, there may be at least one bit string indicating channel bandwidth capabilities for a plurality of channel bandwidths for the particular sub-carrier spacing.

[0103] In an embodiment, the system information block defines the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station for a plurality of different sub-carrier spacings and for a plurality of different frequency ranges, and wherein the user equipment capability information defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment for the plurality of different combinations of the sub-carrier spacings and the frequency ranges. For each combination of the sub-carrier spacing and the frequency range, there may be at least one bit string indicating channel bandwidth capabilities for a plurality of channel bandwidths for the particular combination of the sub-carrier spacing and the frequency range.

[0104] In an embodiment, the base station uses the received user equipment capability information and particularly the channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment to allocate to the user equipment a channel having a selected bandwidth or a channel combination having a selected bandwidth combination. The allocation matches with the channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment. In other words, the base station will not allocate a channel or channel combination that is not supported by the user equipment.

[0105] Any one of the methods for the base station may be realized by a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus for the base station to carry out the method according to any one of the embodiments described in the paragraphs above.

[0106] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosed are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but are extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in therelevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0107] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Where reference is made to a numerical value using a term such as, for example, about or substantially, the exact numerical value is also disclosed.

[0108] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and / or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. In addition, various embodiments and example of the present invention may be referred to herein along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate and autonomous representations of the present invention.

[0109] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the preceding description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

[0110] While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.

[0111] The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of also un-recited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of "a" or "an", that is, a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.

[0112] As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0113] At least some embodiments of the present invention find industrial application in in cellular communication.ACRONYMS LIST3 GPP 3rdgeneration partnership projectAMF access and mobility management functionBS base stationBW bandwidthCA carrier aggregationFR1 frequency range 1FR2 frequency range 2MME mobility management entityNR New RadioNTN non-terrestrial networkPLMN public land mobile networkUE User equipmentREFERENCE SIGNS LIST

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to:- receive, from a base station, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station on at least one frequency band;- compose a user equipment capability information defining channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus, wherein some and not all channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus on the at least one frequency band are defined, wherein the apparatus is configured to select the channel bandwidth capabilities to include in the user equipment capability information based at least in part on the information defining the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station, and- transmit the composed user equipment channel capability information to the base station.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user equipment capability information defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus on more than one frequency band.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, configured to include in the user equipment capability information channel bandwidths from among the channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus which are defined as supported by the base station in the information received from the base station.

4. The apparatus according claim 3, configured to include in the user equipment capability information at least one, but not all, channel bandwidths from among the channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus which are defined as supported by the base station in the information received from the base station.

5. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 4, wherein the information received from the base station comprises a first plurality of channel bandwidths the base station is configuredto support on a first carrier and a second plurality of channel bandwidths the base station is configured to support on a second carrier.

6. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 -5, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform the receiving of the information from the base station from a broadcasted information block transmitted by the base station.

7. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 6, wherein the apparatus is configured to include in the user equipment capability information definitions of channel bandwidths the apparatus supports in the form of at least one bitmap.

8. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 7, wherein the apparatus is a user equipment, or is configured to be installed in a user equipment as a control device thereof.

9. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 8, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate according to a cellular communication standard.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cellular communication standard is a fifth generation or sixth generation standard as defined by 3rdgeneration partnership project.

11. An apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to:- transmit, in a cell controlled by the apparatus, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths the apparatus supports on at least one frequency band;- receive from a user equipment user equipment capability information which defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment.

12. A method comprising:- receiving, from a base station and by an apparatus, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station on at least one frequency band;- composing a user equipment capability information defining channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus, wherein some and not all channel bandwidth capabilitiesof the apparatus on the at least one frequency band are defined, wherein the channel bandwidth capabilities selected to include in the user equipment capability information are selected based at least in part on the information defining the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station, and- transmitting the composed user equipment channel capability information to the base station.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the user equipment capability information defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment on more than one frequency band.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the user equipment includes in the user equipment capability information channel bandwidths from among the channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment which are defined as supported by the base station in the information received from the base station.

15. The method according claim 14, wherein the user equipment includes in the user equipment capability information at least one, but not all, channel bandwidths from among the channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment which are defined as supported by the base station in the information received from the base station.

16. The method according to any of claims 12 - 15, wherein the information received from the base station comprises a first plurality of channel bandwidths the base station is configured to support on a first carrier and a second plurality of channel bandwidths the base station is configured to support on a second carrier.

17. The method according to any of claims 12 - 16, wherein the user equipment receives the information from the base station in a broadcasted information block transmitted by the base station.

18. The method according to any of claims 12 - 17, wherein the user equipment includes in the user equipment capability information definitions of channel bandwidths the user equipment supports in the form of at least one bitmap.

19. A method comprising:- transmitting, in a cell controlled by the apparatus, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths the apparatus supports on at least one frequency band;- receiving from a user equipment user equipment capability information which defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least:- receive, from a base station, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station on at least one frequency band;- compose a user equipment capability information defining channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus, wherein some and not all channel bandwidth capabilities of the apparatus on the at least one frequency band are defined, wherein the apparatus is configured to select the channel bandwidth capabilities to include in the user equipment capability information based at least in part on the information defining the plurality of channel bandwidths supported by the base station, and- transmit the composed user equipment channel capability information to the base station.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least:- transmit, in a cell controlled by the apparatus, information defining a plurality of channel bandwidths the apparatus supports on at least one frequency band;- receive from a user equipment user equipment capability information which defines channel bandwidth capabilities of the user equipment.

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