Method and apparatus for attaching a remote unit to a mobile core network via a standalone untrusted non-3GPP access network

An apparatus comprising:

• a first network interface that communicates with a remote unit over a non-3GPP access network;
• a second network interface that communicates with a mobile core network;
• a third network interface that communicates with the mobile core network;
• a controller that:
• receives a secure connection request to establish a secure connection via the first network interface,
• determines whether the secure connection request is associated with a first capability or a second capability,
• establishes the secure connection with the remote unit via the first network interface,
• relays signaling data between the secure connection and the second network interface when the secure connection request is associated with the first capability, and
• establishes a data connection via the third network interface on behalf of the remote unit and relays user data between the secure connection and the data connection over the third network interface when the secure connection request is associated with the second capability,
• wherein the first capability supports non-access stratum communication and the second capability does not support non-access stratum communication.