Abstract: In a telecommunications network including a mobile terminal configured to operate in at least one active state and an idle mode, a network element for, and method of, managing the mobile terminal's duration of operation in the least one active state, which determine a parameter relating to the mobile terminal or a user of the mobile terminal; allocate an state transition timer with a particular duration in dependence upon the parameter; and transition the mobile terminal to a lesser active state or idle mode upon expiry of the state transition timer. The active states are preferably the RRC states of CELL_DCH, CELL_FACH, URA_PCH and CELL_PCH and the parameter is preferably a Quality of Service indication such as subscriber classification.