Systems and methods related to time and frequency synchronization of a base station in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a synchronizing base station comprises selecting a first base station for frequency synchronization and a second base station for time synchronization, where the second base station can be different than the first base station selected for frequency synchronization. The method further comprises performing frequency synchronization using a signal transmitted from a radio interface of the first base station and performing time synchronization using a signal transmitted from a radio interface of the second base station. In this manner, the synchronizing base station is enabled to independently select the first and second base stations used for frequency and time synchronization, respectively.