Load balancing network access requests

A load balancing unit for balancing network access requests from one or more mobile nodes comprising:

• a memory maintaining mapping information for previously processed network access requests, the mapping information indicating, for each of the previously processed network access requests, a mobile node associated with each previously processed network access request and an address for a gateway selected for receiving the previously processed network access request;
• a first interface to receive a network access from a serving node linked to a radio access network, the network access request identifying a mobile node receiving wireless service from the radio access network and identifying a data network to which the mobile node has requested access, the network access request requesting a communication channel with the serving node for transporting data communications between the mobile node and the data network;
• a second interface to communicate with a domain name server, the domain name server to determine one or more gateways providing access to the data network;
• and
• a processor to:
• communicate with the first and second interfaces;
• use the mapping information to select one of the gateways;
• and
• forward the network access request to the selected gateway.