Embodiments of a Mobility Management Entity (MME) to support packet-switched (PS) services in a network in accordance with Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearers are disclosed herein. The MME may receive, from a User Equipment (UE), an indicator of Machine Type Communication (MTC) operation, which may indicate that the UE operates as an MTC UE. The MME may, at least partly in response to a determination of UE inactivity on an EPS bearer, transmit a bearer release message for release of an S5/S8 bearer included in the EPS bearer. In some embodiments, the indicator of MTC operation may include a permission indicator from the UE for the release of the S5/S8 bearer. In some embodiments, the indicator of MTC operation may include an indicator of transmission of small blocks of data or transmission at an infrequent rate.