apparatus for supporting routing area update in a long term evolution general packet radio service tunneling protocol based system are disclosed a wireless transmit receive unit sends an ra update request to a new evolved node b and a mobility management entity the mme sends an update packet data protocol context request to an access gateway whereby a new tunnel is established between the new enodeb and the agw for an inter mme routing area update the wtru sends an ra update request to a new enodeb and a new mme the new mme sends an mme context request to an agw the agw sends an mme context response to the new mme the new mme sends an update pdp context request to the agw whereby a new tunnel is established between the new enodeb and the agw application_number US 73556007 A description when referred to hereafter the terminology u201c wireless transmit receive unit wtru u201d includes but is not limited to a user equipment ue a mobile station a fixed or mobile subscriber unit a pager a cellular telephone a personal digital assistant pda a computer or any other type of user device capable of operating in a wireless environment when referred to hereafter the terminology u201c base station u201d includes but is not limited to a node b a site controller an access point ap or any.