Managing multicast and unicast wireless data transmission

A method for managing transmission of multicast and/or broadcast services (MBS), performed by a distributed unit (DU) of a distributed base station in a radio access network (RAN), the method comprising:

• receiving, by the DU and from a central unit (CU) of the distributed base station, a data packet via a downlink (DL) tunnel;
• determining, by the DU, whether the data packet was received via a common downlink (DL) tunnel connecting the CU and the DU and via which the CU transmits MBS data packets to multiple User Equipments (UEs);
• when the DU determines that the DU received the data packet from the CU via a common downlink (DL) tunnel, selecting, by the DU, a multicast scheme for transmitting the data packet to the multiple UEs;
• when the DU determines that the DU did not receive the data packet from the CU via the common downlink tunnel, selecting, by the DU, a unicast scheme for transmitting the data packet to a particular UE;
• and
• transmitting the data packet via a radio interface to the multiple UEs or to the particular UE using the selected scheme.