Self-backhauling in LTE

A method implemented in an anchor base station configured in a system that includes a self-backhauled base station that communicates via a radio interface with the anchor base station, wherein the anchor base station communicates with a cellular network's serving gateway (S-GW) or Mobility Management Entity (MME) node of a user equipment via a transport network, wherein the S-GW comprises a second S-GW, and wherein the self-backhauled base station is accessible by the second S-GW or MME node via the anchor base station, comprising:

• performing a proxy operation at the anchor base station, wherein the anchor base station acts as a proxy between the second S-GW or MME node and the self-backhauled base station by translating control plane messages and by switching data packets resulting in the user equipment appearing to the second S-GW and the MME node as being directly connected to the anchor base station such that the self-backhauled base station is hidden from the second S-GW and MME node;
• receiving a data packet destined for the user equipment;
• mapping the received data packet from an incoming General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Tunneling Protocol (GTP) tunnel to an outgoing GTP tunnel;
• receiving a control message and modifying elements of the control message while copying other elements in the control message by modifying a user equipment connection identifier or translating a setup of a bearer for the user equipment to a bearer towards the self-backhauled base station;
• and
• forwarding the control message between the self-backhauled base station and the second S-GW or MME node.