Abstract: A handover process for enabling a user terminal to transfer a connect to a network from a route by way of a source access node to a route by way of a target access node, where the nodes are controlled by different respective control systems is initiated by establishing a link between the terminal and the target node and a data forwarding tunnel between the access nodes to allow data transmitted over a link from the network to the source node to continue to be transmitted to the terminal. The backhaul connection is then re-routed by co-ordination between the access control systems. The source node transmits a flag to the target node which identifies its respective access control system. This flag is forwarded by the target node to its respective access control system to allow it to set up a data link over which relocation instructions can be coordinated to set up a data link between the network and the target node, and to close the data link between the network and the source node.

Abstract: A handover process for enabling a user terminal to transfer a connect to a network from a route by way of a source access node to a route by way of a target access node, where the nodes are controlled by different respective control systems is initiated by establishing a link between the terminal and the target node and a data forwarding tunnel between the access nodes to allow data transmitted over a link from the network to the source node to continue to be transmitted to the terminal. The backhaul connection is then re-routed by co-ordination between the access control systems. The source node transmits a flag to the target node which identifies its respective access control system. This flag is forwarded by the target node to its respective access control system to allow it to set up a data link over which relocation instructions can be coordinated to set up a data link between the network and the target node, and to close the data link between the network and the source node.