Event-based load balancing in 4G-5G multi-radio dual connectivity

Systems and methods for balancing load in an area of a wireless network comprising first nodes operating according to a first Radio Access Technology and at least one second node operating according to a second Radio Access Technology. The method comprises establishing a connection between a user device and a first node; receiving an indication of an entry threshold for establishing a connection between the user device and a second node during a current time period, wherein the entry threshold is determined in dependence on an expected usage requirement for the area of the wireless network during the current time period; determining, by the user device, whether a parameter of a signal received from the second node exceeds the entry threshold; and responsive to determining that the parameter of the signal received from the second node exceeds the entry threshold, establishing, by the first node, a dual connectivity session between the user device and both the first and the second nodes.