Communication system with improved medium access control sub-layer

A method for performing a ciphering operation, comprising:

• providing information from an upper layer to a medium access control sub-layer for protection of data;
• performing ciphering of the data using at least one of the medium access control sub-layer or a physical layer;
• and
• providing a status of the ciphering operation to the upper layer.

A communication system having a plurality of mobile terminals and a communication network, each of said mobile terminals and the communication network comprising:

• a physical layer for receiving and sending information;
• a medium access control sub-layer receiving services from the physical layer;
• and
• an upper layer to the medium access control sub-layer for receiving services from the medium access control sub-layer, wherein
• said medium access control sub-layer performing a pluality of functions or providing a plurality of services and having a plurality of separate entities, each entity performing at least one corresponding different function, and
• said plurality of separate entities of said medium access control sub-layer includes:
• a broadcast entity for handling a broadcast channel,
• a common entity for handling a common channel, and
• a dedicated entity for handling a dedicated channel, wherein said plurality of functions includes ciphering and channel condition.