A method of controlling the volume of user-plane traffic on the Iub or
Iub/Iur interface between a Radio Network Controller and a Node B of a
UMTS Radio Access Network during periods of overload. The method
comprises, for individual uplink or downlink connections established over
the Iub or Iub/Iur interface, monitoring at the Radio Network Controller
the late arrival of frames at the Radio Network Controller or at the Node
B transmitted over the Iub or Iub/Iur interface, and based on the results
of said monitoring, causing a reduction in the Iub or Iub/Iur load for a
connection when appropriate.