User plane optimizations for 5G cellular internet of things

Disclosed herein is a method of operating a RAN node 203 of a wireless communication network, the method comprising: receiving a connection resume request message from a wireless terminal 201 at the RAN node 5 instructing the RAN node to establish a connection with the wireless terminal; providing release information for the wireless terminal at the RAN node; receiving uplink data from the wireless terminal at the RAN node, wherein the uplink data is associated with the connection resume request message; and transmitting a connection release message to the wireless terminal after receiving the uplink data responsive to the release information for the wireless terminal, wherein the connection release message instructs the wireless terminal to release and/or suspend the .0 connection. Fig.9 Figure 9 Figure 10 Begin Begin Receive Random Access Receive Random Access Preamble Preamble Transmit Random Access Transmit Random Access Response Response Receive Connection Receive Conn. Resume Resume Request Request (with UL Data) Provide Release Provide Release Information Information Transmit Connection Transmit Connection Resume Response Release Message Receive Uplink Data End 911 __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ Transmit Connection Release Message End