Handover mechanism in cellular networks

A method performed at a first base station of a wireless communications network, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication that a user equipment (UE) is receiving coverage signal from a second base station;
• forwarding data packets destined for the UE to the second base station;
• maintaining a RRC_connected state with the UE after forwarding the data packets destined for the UE to the second base station, wherein maintaining the RRC_connected state with the UE comprises:
• sending, from the first base station to the UE, a first Radio Resource Control (RRC) message after forwarding the data packets;
• and
• in response to the first RRC message, receiving, at the first base station, a second RRC message from the UE;
• receiving a data packet destined for an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) from the second base station;
• decrypting the data packet destined for the EPC to form Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Service Data Unit (SDU);
• forwarding the data packet destined for the EPC to the EPC;
• and
• maintaining a communications link with the UE after forwarding the data packet destined for the EPC from the second base station.