A method and base station controller (BSC) in a GPRS/EDGE cellular radio telecommunication system for controlling a handover of a mobile station (MS) conducting both a circuit-switched call and a packet data session, and for rapidly reestablishing the packet data session. The BSC determines from measurement reports that a handover of the MS is imminent. The BSC sends both packet system information and Dual Transfer Mode (DTM) information relevant in the target cell to the MS prior to a handover command. When the handover is complete, the BSC may also send a pseudo cell update message to a serving SGSN. The message includes an identifier of the MS and appears to the SGSN to be from the MS. After the circuit-switched call is reconnected, the packet data session is rapidly reestablished utilizing the information sent to the mobile station prior to the handover command, and without having to send a cell update message from the MS.