Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring communication within a communications system. A target cell is identified to which to transfer communication from the RU. A cell reselection request to the target cell is then initiated for requesting transfer of RU communication from the source cell to the target cell. The RU disconnects from the serving cell and any data from the SGSN to the RU is buffered by the serving PCU. The serving PCU and the target PCU detect the occurrence of the cell change prior to the SGSN detecting the cell change. As a result, the buffered data is transferred from the serving PCU to the target PCU prior to the network detecting the cell change and prior to a FLUSH-LL message being transmitted from the SGSN to the serving PCU.