Link establishment in relay nodes

Disclosed are methods, systems, apparatus, and computer programs for establishing a data path between an access node and a donor node of an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network. In one aspect, a method includes selecting a subset of the plurality of nodes to establish the data path, where the subset of nodes includes the access node and one or more intermediate nodes that link the access node to the donor node, and where the one or more intermediate nodes include a final intermediate node that is coupled to the donor node via a donor-node backhaul bearer, establishing an access link bearer that couples a user equipment (UE) to the access node, establishing respective backhaul link bearers between the subset of nodes, and mapping a final one of the respective backhaul link bearers to the donor-node backhaul link bearer.