Abstract: An improved method of initiating handoffs between sectors so as to reduce sectored voice channel interference is disclosed. The sectors that are adjacent and to the rear of the sector that is serving the mobile unit are scanned for signal quality. A handoff request message is sent to the cell controller if the signal quality detected by any of the scanned sectors is better than the signal quality read at the sector serving the mobile unit. When the handoff request message is received at the cell controller, a voice channel is allocated to the cell and sector associated with the scanned sector specified as having the better signal. A handoff process from the voice channel currently serving the mobile unit to the newly allocated voice channel in the specified sector, is then initiated.