Traffic distribution for inter-cell carrier aggregation

A method of distributing traffic for transmission by inter-cell carrier aggregation within a cellular network, which includes receiving a plurality of traffic packets at a node 70 (such as a Mobility Management Entity MME node) of the cellular network, analysing the plurality of traffic packets to categorise each of the plurality of traffic packets according to an application type associated with traffic of the respective traffic packet, and distributing the plurality of traffic packets between a plurality of cells (such as a master/primary eNB macro-cell 20 and a Secondary eNB small cell 30) for transmission by carrier aggregation to User Equipment 60, in accordance with the respective categorisation of each of the plurality of traffic packets. Analysing the plurality of traffic packets may comprise determining at least one transport layer protocol characteristic associated with the respective traffic packet, or may comprise one or more of: inspection of each of the plurality of traffic packets (light packet inspection); traffic pattern identification; heuristic packet analysis. Distributing the plurality of traffic packets may be performed in accordance with a categorisation indicated in DiffServ Code Point, DSCP, bits of each of the traffic packets.