UPLINK DATA INDICATION

According to some embodiments, a method performed by a user equipment for indicating uplink data comprises determining a data volume indicator (DVI) representing an amount of uplink data for transmission by the user equipment and encoding the DVI in a media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU). Encoding the DVI in the MAC PDU comprises encoding the DVI with a common control channel (CCCH) MAC service data unit (SDU), and encoding a logical channel identifier (LCID) value in a MAC subheader of the MAC PDU that indicates that the MAC PDU includes the CCCH MAC SDU and the DVI. The method further comprises transmitting the MAC PDU to a network node. Particular embodiments include a method in a network node for decoding the DVI in the MAC PDU.