Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobility management method for mobile terminals in a cellular wireless communication system. The system comprises a core network and an access network comprising at least one controller, each controller controlling a group of base stations each defining at least one cell, and sets of cells form respective location areas. In the method the cells defined by the base stations controlled by each controller of the access network form a predetermined number of location areas and the belonging of each of the cells to one of the predetermined number of location areas is independent of its geographical location.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobility management method for mobile terminals in a cellular wireless communication system. The system comprises a core network and an access network comprising at least one controller, each controller controlling a group of base stations each defining at least one cell, and sets of cells form respective location areas. In the method the cells defined by the base stations controlled by each controller of the access network form a predetermined number of location areas and the belonging of each of the cells to one of the predetermined number of location areas is independent of its geographical location.

Abstract: A mobile telecommunications system comprising a network (30) is described having at least one base station transceiver (31-34) for communication with mobile terminals (50) within a first geographic area (A, B, C, D). The network (30) is adapted for communicating messages to an from the at least one base station transceiver (31-34) which is connected to a first communications link (36-39) of the network (30) for receipt and transmission of user messages. The at least one base station transceiver (31-34) is adapted so that when the at least one base station transceiver (31-34) detects a fault in the first communications link (36-39) the at least one base station transceiver (31-34) continues to transmit a beacon or pilot signal; and the network (30) is adapted to monitor activity of the mobile terminals (50) for determination of whether the beacon or pilot signal is being transmitted from the at least one base station transceiver (31-34).