By evaluating a cell selection criterion S during scans for available public land mobile networks (PLMNs), a user equipment (UE) can avoid network service interruptions by not selecting PLMNs for which there exist no suitable cells. The cell selection criterion can be evaluated based on cell parameters either read during the PLMN selection procedure or locally stored before the PLMN selection procedure. It is possible to reduce the time required for PLMN scans and UE power consumption.