In an aspect, a wireless terminal, operating in a wireless communication system with distinct areas that each include base stations, transmits a data packet to a network node on a common channel. The data packet includes a header with an identifier that is an area-specific identifier for the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal has been allocated an area-specific identifier but not a cell-specific identifier. A network node of the wireless communication system receives the data packet sent from the wireless terminal. The network node associates the area-specific identifier for the wireless terminal in the data packet with a network-wide identifier for the wireless terminal and handles the data packet according to the network-wide identifier.