Abstract: A method of setting up a connection between two parties over a radio ATM network is provided. A remote, off-board agent, called the proxy signalling agent, is used to provide signalling and call control functionality for one or more network element(s). In order to receive and transmit signalling messages on behalf of the network element, a bi-directional virtual channel is provisioned, one for each port, from the network element to the proxy signalling agent. For each network element under the control of the proxy signalling agent, the proxy signalling agent provides signalling stacks, one for each of the elements ports, along with call admission control, routing and VCI allocation functions. This avoids the need for the network element to perform these functions. The proxy signalling agent controls the network element's connection tables using a simple and low-level control protocol to effect changes in the connection state at that element, rather than using UNI.