Maintaining signaling reduction mode in communication networks

A method comprising:

• receiving at a first wireless access node a location update request message from a mobile device in a signaling reduction mode, the signaling reduction mode permitting the mobile device to switch radio access technologies while maintaining registration with both a second wireless access node and a peer wireless access node;
• receiving from the second wireless access node a first control tunnel identifier of the peer wireless access node;
• transmitting to the peer wireless access node a second control tunnel identifier of the first wireless access node, the transmission using the first control tunnel identifier of the peer wireless access node;
• and
• continuing the signaling reduction mode so that the mobile device can switch radio access technologies while maintaining registration with both the first wireless access node and a peer wireless access node.

A wireless access node comprising:

• an interface that is configured to provide communication with other network devices, exchange with a peer wireless access node a first control tunnel identifier of the wireless access node and a second control tunnel identifier of the peer wireless access node, and transmit to a second gateway the second control tunnel identifier of the peer wireless access node;
• a memory that is configured to store a module;
• and
• a processor that is configured to run the module stored in memory to activate a signaling reduction mode for a mobile device in an idle state where the signaling reduction mode permits the mobile device to switch radio access technologies while maintaining registration with both the wireless access node and a peer wireless access node and to continue the signaling reduction mode when the second gateway is selected to replace a first gateway.