A next generation wireless data system and method for handoff from a node in a network is presented. The system includes a core network (CN) and a source and a target radio network subsystem (RNS). The interface between the RNSs is enhanced to reduce unnecessary relay of messaging through the CN and thus will reduce traversing delays as well as the resources utilized in message processing. Two separate methods are proposed for handing off the data traffic to the target RNS at the CN packet processing node. These methods are a multi-cast function that concurrently sends data to the source RNS and the target RNS, and a suspend/resume function which suspends the data flow towards the source RNS and resumes the flow towards the target RNS.