Abstract: A method and apparatus for neighbor assisted combining for localized multicast services. Cells are determined in which user equipment resides that desire a common multicast service. At least one serving cell for transmitting the common multicast service is selected based on the determination. At least one extended serving cell is selected from at least one serving cell neighbor cell which does not have user equipment that desires the common multicast service, the extended serving cell influencing transmissions on the serving cell. The common multicast service is transmitted on the selected at least one serving cell.