Methods and apparatus enable a femto radio base station (28f) to be connected to an appropriate radio network controller node (26) of a radio access network (24) for use as an active radio network controller node for the femto radio base station. The connection is accomplished the femto radio base station (28f) preparing a node address inquiry and for using the node address inquiry for obtaining an internet protocol (IP) address of an appropriate radio network controller node. The femto radio base station (28f) further uses the internet protocol (IP) address of an appropriate radio network controller node for connecting to the appropriate radio network controller node as its active radio network controller node.