Packet radio communications system

A method of communicating internet packets to and/or from mobile user equipment using a packet radio communications system, the system comprising a core network, a plurality of radio access networks and a packet service control subsystem function, the core network comprising a plurality of packet data networks, each including network communications elements for communicating internet packets using an internet protocol transport plane, and a common gateway support node, the plurality of radio access networks being connected by the internet protocol transport plane to the packet data networks, the method comprising

• establishing communications bearers through the transport plane of the packet data networks using the network communications elements,
• routing the internet packets via the established communications bearers,
• providing radio access bearers using the plurality of radio access networks connected by the internet protocol transport plane to the core network components of the packet data networks,
• communicating the internet packets to and/or from the mobile user equipment via the radio access bearers,
• controlling the communication of the internet packets via the radio access bearers using the access network part of the packet service control subsystem function, and
• controlling the communication of the internet packets via the communications bearers using the non-access network part of the packet service control subsystem function, wherein at least one of the plurality of packet data networks is arranged to operate in accordance with a different telecommunications standard than the other packet data networks.

An apparatus for communicating internet packets to and/or from mobile user equipment using a packet radio communications system, the system comprising a core network, a plurality of radio access networks and a packet service control subsystem function, the core network comprising a plurality of packet data networks, each including network communications elements for communicating internet packets using an internet protocol transport plane, and a common gateway support node, the plurality of radio access networks being connected by the internet protocol transport plane to the packet data networks, the method comprising

• means for establishing communications bearers through the transport plane of the packet data networks using the network communications elements,
• means for routing the internet packets via the established communications bearers,
• means for providing radio access bearers using the plurality of radio access networks connected by the internet protocol transport plane to the core network components of the packet data networks,
• means for communicating the internet packets to and/or from the mobile user equipment via the radio access bearers,
• means for controlling the communication of the internet packets via the radio access bearers using the access network part of the packet service control subsystem function, and
• means for controlling the communication of the internet packets via the communications bearers using the non-access network part of the packet service control subsystem function, wherein at least one of the plurality of packet data networks is arranged to operate in accordance with a different telecommunications standard than the other packet data networks.