The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system to be provided for supporting higher data rates Beyond 4th-Generation (4G) communication system such as Long Term Evolution (LTE). A method for operating a terminal in a wireless communication system includes transmitting, to a macro base station, first information for indicating a link quality between the terminal and a small base station. The method also includes receiving, from the macro base station, a message for instructing a handover, and performing the handover from the macro base station to the small base station according to the message. The handover is determined based on the first information and second information for indicating another link quality between the small base station and the macro base station.