Preserving S1-AP UE contexts on SCTP failover

A method in a second Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) node-of a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving a S1 setup request from a first SCTP network node, wherein the first SCTP network node comprises an SCTP peer of the second SCTP node, the S1 setup request message comprising an indication that at least one UE context maintained by the first SCTP node is valid after a SCTP failure;
• and
• determining whether at least one UE context maintained by the second SCTP node is valid, in response to the indication that at least one UE context maintained by the first SCTP is valid.

A second Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) node comprising a processor operable to:

• receive a setup request message from a first SCTP network node, wherein the first SCTP network node comprises an SCTP peer of the second SCTP node, the setup request message comprising an indication that at least one UE context maintained by the first SCTP node is valid after a SCTP failure;
• and
• determine whether at least one UE context maintained by the second SCTP node is valid, in response to the indication that at least one UE context maintained by the first SCTP is valid.