The present invention is directed to a digital wireless telecommunications system that includes a plurality of base station of differing spectral capabilities, and a plurality of remote stations capable of transmitting data to and receiving transmissions from the plurality of base stations. The invention herein provides a method for remote station hand-off between base stations of a narrower spectral capacity and base stations of a wider spectral capacity. A method is provided for a wireless telecommunications infrastructure to facilitate a remote station hand-off from a set of narrowband compliant base stations to at least one wideband compliant base station while a remote station is in the coverage area of both types of base stations. Additionally, the invention herein provides remote station apparatus, base station apparatus, and base station controller apparatus for performing the handoff methodology of the present invention.