In a cellular communication system, a coverage transition Is performed where a compensation service area is expanded to cover an energy saving service area and the energy saving service area is deactivated The coverage transition is managed by transferring user equipment devices (UE devices) from an energy saving service area to a transition service area that at least partially overlaps with the energy saving service area. The UE devices may be transferred using a handover procedure between communication stations where each UE device is assigned communication frequencies for communication with the transition communication station that are not used by the energy saving communication station or the compensation service area, thereby avoiding, or at least minimizing, interference. After all UE devices are transferred from the energy saving service area, the communication stations are configured to deactivate the energy saving service area and to expand the compensation service area to cover the energy saving service area.