An apparatus and method for efficient transitions between operating states in a communication network, includes a preliminary step of having a mobile station in a Dormant or Idle state. A next step includes requiring a data transfer, either to or from the mobile station. A next step includes transitioning the mobile station from the Dormant or Idle to an Active state. A next step includes transferring a bearer path context for the data from a Paging Control Function (PCF) to an RF Bearer Function. This can include creating a tunnel using an Inter-PCF handoff procedure. The result is a direct connection between an RF Bearer Function and an IP Router, without the PCF being in the data path.