A method of alternative routing of a service request in connection with a
pool 1 of integrated core network nodes. Before a serving radio access
node routes a service request to the core network node serving a mobile
station it checks if there are any idle terrestrial transmission
resources available between the serving radio access node and the serving
core network node. If idle resources are available, the service request
is routed to the serving core network node. If no idle resources are
available, the service request is rerouted to a selected one of the other
core network nodes the pool that has idle resources available. The
selected core network node receives the service request, recognizes it
contains no temporary identification (TMSI) number associated with it and
therefore sends an identity request to the mobile station. The identity
request triggers the mobile station initiate an update location
registration at the selected core network node or at any of the other
core network nodes in the pool. The selected core network node or said
other network node now acts as serving core network node for the mobile
station. Next time the mobile station makes a service request the radio
access node routes it to said selected or said other network node to
which it hopefully are idle terrestrial transmission resources available.