This paper focuses on optimizing the channel allocation in Cognitive cellular networks for enhanced connectivity. Optimization of channel allocation is done by using the Particle swarm optimization (PSO) and Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) technique. These techniques use the natural behavior of birds and bees respectively to find the target (food) as a concept to allocate the channels to the links in cognitive networks. A cognitive network consists of Femto cells in a macro cell network area for which channel allocation is required. PSO and ABC algorithms evaluates the femto as well as macro cell networks and allocates the channels used by primary users to the secondary users in such a way that interference in minimized. This is done by calculating the Signal to noise ratio (SINR) values and using these to calculate fitness of the allocated link. The performances of PSO and the ABC are compared. When compared between PSO and ABC, ABC gives better results in terms of fitness value, time required for channel allocation and QoS for allocated channels.