a method for controlling the overflow of roaming users in a public or private mobile communication system . when the number of roaming users is greater than the number of the roaming numbers in a specific region , a newly arriving roaming user is assigned the roaming number of an inactive roaming user already registered in the network , who becomes then an overflow roaming user . should an overflow roaming user require the use of the mobile communication functions , for example to make or receive a call , the overflow roaming user is in turn assigned the roaming number of another inactive user , who then becomes an overflow user . by this method , a number of roaming numbers can be shuffled between a larger number of roaming users and roaming users arriving into a network with an overflow of roaming users are still able to access the mobile communication functions .