Communication between a private network (1) and a roaming mobile terminal
(4), the private network (1) including a home agent (5) for the mobile
terminal and a gateway (2, 3) through which, the communication passes and
which-provides security protection for the private network (1). The
protocols of the communication Including security association bundles
each include a security association between the mobile terminal (4) and
the gateway (2, 3) for inbound communication and another security
association for outbound communication. In response to a handover of
communication causing an IP address. (MN Co @) of the mobile terminal
(4), to change to a new IP address (MN: New Co @), the mobile terminal
updates its inbound security association from the, gateway (2, 3) so that
it can receive packets sent to it with the new IP address (MN New Co @)
as destination. It sends a first signalling message with: the home agent
(5) as destination: in a secure tunnel (20') to the gateway (2, 3),
indicating the new IP address (MN, New Co @) in secure form to the home
agent (5). The inbound security association of the gateway (2, 3) from
the mobile terminal (4) accets, the first signalling message without
cheking its source address. The gateway (2, 3) forwards the first
signalling message within the private network (1) to the home agent (5),
the home agent (5) checks the validity of the first signalling message
and, if It is valid, updates its address data and sends a second
signalling message to the gateway (2,3) indicating the new address (MN
New Co @). The gateway (2, 3) updates its outbound security association
with the mobile terminal (4) in response to the new address (MN New Co @)
indicated. Preferably, communication between the mobile node (4) and the
gateway (2, 3) is in accordance with IPsec and an Encapsulating Security
Paypepad protocol used in tunnel mode. Preferably, a registration reply
for the mobile node (4) is included In the second signalling message.