A method and system for formulating an SINR metric for cells using only the existing RSRP and RSRQ measurements. With this method and system side information is exchanged between eNBs of an E-UTRAN using the X2 interface where the X2 interface carries the X2 Application Protocol (X2AP). The side information is introduced either within X2AP messages exchanged between eNB nodes or via modification of existing X2AP messages. Serving cell system information block (SIB) messages may also be modified or new SIB messages introduced to facilitate computation of an SNIR metric at a UE.