Delayed flow control action in transport network layer WCDMA communications

A radio access transport network node for use in a radio access transport network including one or more radio network controllers coupled to one or more radio base stations, comprising electronic circuitry configured to:

• monitor data packet flows, each data packet flow associated with a mobile radio terminal communication and being controlled in the radio access transport network by one or more corresponding flow control entities, for congestion in the radio access transport network;
• detect congestion in the radio access transport network for one of the monitored data packet flows;
• determine a flow control action in response to the detected congestion;
• and
• delay performance of the flow control action for a predetermined delay period before the flow control action may be performed
• wherein if a maximum delay value actually waited for the one data packet flow in a recent prior time interval exceeds the predetermined delay period, then the electronic circuitry is further configured to perform the flow control action or send a flow control action message for the one data packet flow without waiting the predetermined delay period.