In a radio access network, a SRNC relocation procedure (100, 100)
is performed for relocating a role of a serving radio network controller (SRNC)
for a telecommunications service involving a user equipment unit (UE) from a first
radio network controller (261) to a second radio network controller
(262). In accordance various modes of the SRNC relocation procedure,
the first radio network controller signals to the second radio network controller
information for linking transport channels utilized for the service with a radio
access bearer (RAB) for the service. In a first mode of the invention, the signaling
links a dedicated transport channel (DCH) utilized for the service with a radio
access bearer (RAB) for the service. In second through fourth modes of the invention,
during the SRNC relocation procedure the signaling links uplink and downlink transport
channel (TrCH) IDs with the radio access bearer (RAB) identifier. Preferably but
not exclusively, in accordance with the SRNC relocation procedure the signaling
of the information for linking the transport channels with the radio access bearer
(RAB) for the service occurs at a time when a user equipment unit (UE) involved
in the service is not changing cells, with the signaling being routed via a core
network. Advantageously, the SRNC relocation procedure of the invention allows
the target SRNC node to utilize, after the relocation, the same transport channels
as before the location, without having to make new allocations of transport channels.