An apparatus for use in a remote UE of a ProSe network facilitates downlink reachability of the remote UE. The apparatus includes a processing circuit configured to detect a paging message from an eNodeB of the ProSe network, over an air interface between the eNodeB and the remote UE or through a relay UE of the ProSe network over a PC5 interface between the relay UE and the remote UE. The processing circuit is further configured to generate and transmit a connection request message to the relay UE, in response to receiving the paging message, to establish a direct connection between the remote UE and the relay UE. Further, the processing circuit is configured to detect downlink data from the eNodeB through the relay UE over the PC5 interface using EPS bearer of the remote UE or the relay UE, in response to providing the connection request message.