Abstract: A load balancing system for a wireless network comprises: a base station parameter extraction unit able to extract base station availability parameters of currently available base stations; and a base station quality of service selector associated with said base station parameter extraction unit configured to determine from said parameters which of said available base stations is able to provide a currently required quality of service. The system requests resources from one such base station, thereby to ensure that mobile stations are distributed in a balanced manner between the available base stations. As well as quality of service, interference with other links may be taken into account, and uplinks and downlinks may be considered separately.