A method and apparatus for sending user plane traffic via a node located between a base station and a Serving Gateway in a mobile telecommunications network. The base station receives a message containing tunneling protocol information identifying the Serving Gateway. It sends a second message towards the node, the second message including tunneling protocol information identifying the base station and the Serving Gateway. The base station receives a third message from the node, the third message including tunneling protocol information for the base station to use towards the node, and tunneling protocol information for the Serving Gateway to use towards the node. A fourth message is sent, which includes tunneling protocol information for the Serving Gateway to use towards the node. User plane traffic can then be sent between the base station and the Serving Gateway via the node.