Method and user equipment for implementing device to device communications between UEs

A network entity for a proximity service (ProSe), the network entity comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• a controller coupled with the transceiver and configured to control:
• receiving, from a user equipment (UE), an attach request message including UE capability information for a ProSe service,
• receiving, from the UE, a service request message for the ProSe service, the service request message including an identification of the UE,
• obtaining, from a server, an address of a packet data network gateway (PGW) based on the identification of the UE which is a UE to be discovered by another UE, wherein a packet data network (PDN) bearer of the other UE is pre-established based on the PGW,
• selecting the PGW for establishing a PDN bearer of the UE based on the obtained address of the PGW, and
• transmitting, to a base station, a context setup request message including information indicating that the UE is authorized to use the ProSe service associated with a registered public land mobile network (PLMN) based on subscription information of the UE,
• wherein the subscription information of the UE is received from a home subscriber server (HSS) and includes first subscription information for a ProSe direct discovery, second subscription information for a ProSe direct communication and third subscription information for a ProSe UE-to-network relay, and
• wherein authorization information for the ProSe service is obtained by the UE, the authorization information for the ProSe service including a discovery range.