Decentralizing core network functionalities

A method of providing network access, the method comprising:

• in a wireless access network associated with a core network;
• using a gateway device for establishing a connection from a wireless access device to the core network;
• applying a relay function at the gateway device, wherein the relay function is configured to map an address of the wireless access device to a plurality of core network addresses of a pool of gateway devices connected to the core network;
• supporting decentralizing of at least one core network functionality and co-locating it with the gateway device;
• and
• terminating at least one of a user plane and a control plane of the connection, at at least one of the wireless access device and the gateway device using the at least one core network functionality.

An apparatus for establishing a connection from a wireless access device in a wireless access network to an associated core network, the apparatus comprising:

• relay means for mapping an address of the wireless access device to a plurality of core network addresses of a pool of gateway devices connected to the core network;
• selecting means for selecting a single address from the plurality of core network addresses for the wireless access device;
• and
• gateway means for establishing a connection from the wireless access device to the core network via the selected single address.