The exemplary embodiments of the invention provide apparatus, methods and computer program products that enable improved sequence number handling in networks, such as an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN), for example. In one non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, a method includes: generating a sequence number offset value; and transmitting a protected message having the generated sequence number offset value over a wireless communication link from a first device towards a second device, wherein the generated sequence number offset value is for use by the second device in generating a sequence number for a subsequent transmission. As non-limiting examples, the first device may be one of a mobile station or a base station, the second device may be one of a mobile station, a base station or a center node, and if one of the first device or the second device is a mobile station then the other of the first device and the second device is not a mobile station. As another non-limiting example, the first device and the second device may be components of an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN). As further non-limiting examples, the first device may be one of an E-UTRAN node B (eNB) or a user equipment (UE), the second device may be one of an eNB, a UE or a service gateway, and if one of the first device or the second device is a UE then the other of the first device and the second device is not a UE.