Method and apparatus to reduce signaling overhead in the presence of network over-load condition

An apparatus for controlling network access for at least one user equipment in a single wireless communication network comprising at least one network node and mobility management entities, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory memory including computer program code, where the non-transitory memory and computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus,
• in response to a receipt of an overload start indication for restricting access to the single wireless communication network from the at least one network node, to compose and send first signaling to the at least one user equipment to indicate that an overload condition exists for the at least one network node, wherein the first signaling is configured to cause the at least one user equipment to abstain from making a network access attempt to the single wireless communication network;
• and
• in response to a receipt of an overload end indication from the at least one network node, to compose and send second signaling to the at least one user equipment to indicate that the overload condition no longer exists, where the first signaling comprises information to specify a subset of user equipments that are allowed to attempt network access.