A method and computerized apparatus for assigning frequencies to a plurality of cells in a cellular network. Each cell requires a predetermined number of frequencies. The method includes generating a difficulty factor for each cell, wherein each cell's difficulty factor is based on an adjustment factor for that cell, and wherein, following a first unsuccessful assignment attempt, each cell's adjustment factor is indicative of a relative level of difficulty in selecting frequencies for that cell during the first unsuccessful assignment attempt. The method further includes the steps of selecting a cell from the plurality of cells based on each cell's difficulty factor; selecting a frequency from the available frequencies for the selected cell; when at least one of the plurality of cells requires at least one more frequency and there is at least one frequency available for use by that cell, repeating the steps of generating a difficulty factor, selecting a cell and selecting a frequency; and when at least one of the plurality of cells requires at least one more frequency and there are no frequencies available for use by that cell, updating each cell's adjustment factor, unselecting all of the selected cells and all of the selected frequencies for the selected cells, and re-performing the steps of generating a difficulty factor, selecting a cell, selecting a frequency, as a second assignment attempt.