Methods, systems and computer readable media are disclosed for operating a wireless network system. In one embodiment a method includes defining a plurality of Information Elements (IEs) relating to a retransmit timer value and a retransmit count; including, by the Mobility Management Entity (MME), the plurality of IEs in a first message sent to an eNodeB with a timer value and a retransmission count for the message; processing, by the eNodeB, the message, buffering the request, and starting a corresponding timer; and sending, by the eNodeB when a response from a User Equipment (UE) is not received before the timer expires, a stop retry message indication to the MME.