The invention relates to a method for managing a network of a plurality of base stations of small cells, placed in a region of a macro-cell in which at least one terminal is found, each small cell base station being adapted for covering a small cell, the method being characterized in that a set A of at least one small cell covering said at least one terminal present in the region, is determined, and the smallest subset B of at least one small cell allowing coverage of said at least one terminal is selected from said set A, such that only said at least one small cell of the subset B will have to be active.