Method and apparatus for reducing signalling traffic in a telecommunication system

A system for updating the location of a plurality of mobile stations (107) in a moving craft or vehicle, the system comprising a satellite communication system (101) and a common terminal (103) in the craft or vehicle for providing a communication interface between the mobile stations (107) and the satellite system (101), characterised in that:

• the common terminal (103) comprises means for transmitting an initial location updating message to the satellite system (101) each time a mobile station (107) is attached to the common terminal (103), wherein the initial location updating message includes an identity of the common terminal (103) and an identity of the attached mobile station (107),
• the satellite system (101) comprises means for storing information on the mobile stations (107) currently being attached to the common terminal (103) based on the initial location updating message, and that
• the common terminal (103) further comprises means for transmitting a location updating message to the satellite system (101) including the identity of the common terminal (103),
• wherein the satellite system (101) can derive the new location for each of the attached mobile stations (107) based on the transmitted location updating message from the common terminal (103) and the stored information on the mobile stations (107) currently being attached to the common terminal (103).