The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for improved UE communication mode determination by a network entity, such as a radio network controller, where multi-cell and multi-carrier communication is available to the UE in a wireless network. For example, in an aspect, methods and apparatuses are provided for determining whether a user equipment (UE) is in a soft handover region and a softer handover region, and where the UE is in such a region, predicting a future multi-cell performance of the UE assuming the UE will be served by a plurality of cells on a single carrier, predicting a future multi-carrier performance of the UE assuming the UE will be served by a plurality of carriers of a single cell, comparing the future multi-cell performance to the future multi-carrier performance, and transmitting a mode command to the UE based at least on the comparing.