A method for improved system selection by wireless mobile devices in 3GPP networks is provided. Location data is retrieved by the wireless device to estimate an initial system on which the wireless mobile device will attempt initialization. Using the location data, an absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN) associated with the location data is determined from an ARFCN table stored in memory in the wireless mobile device. The wireless mobile device can then perform system selection using the determined ARFCN. A server generates and maintains the ARFCN table which is initially provided to the wireless mobile device at manufacturer, during provisioning or as an over-the-air update.