A method for estimating how best to position a new cell within an existing overloaded cell that is running out of capacity in a wireless network so as to optimize the offloading of capacity from the overloaded cell includes: filtering call records to keep calls made during a selected capacity planning interval calls and performing one or more of sending data to the overloaded cell and receiving data from the overloaded cell; geo-locating the sending and receiving calls; calculating one or more resource utilization values for one or more geo-located sending and receiving calls; and determining coordinates for an optimum new cell location so as to optimize the offloading of capacity from the existing overloaded cell.