Load balancing network access requests

Logic for load balancing requests for communication channels, the logic embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and operable to:

• maintain mapping information for previously processed network access requests;
• receive a network access request 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;
• determine one or more gateways providing access to the data network;
• use the mapping information to select one of the gateways providing access to the data network;
• and
• forward the network access request to the selected gateway.