A context-adaptive base station for use in a wireless network, comprising: a processing apparatus coupled to both a storage medium and a wireless network interface, the storage medium having at least one computer program stored thereon, the at least one computer program that, when executed by the processing apparatus: stores requests from one or more portable devices, the requests comprising a request for context information from the base station, the context information comprising one or more data payloads useful for identifying information pertinent to one or more aspects of the wireless network or subscriber classes, the context information containing information on Composite Wireless Network, Operator, Operator Profile, Operator Capabilities, Assigned Channel, Assigned Channel Profile, Regulatory Rule, SA Policy, RAN, RAN Profile, RAN Configuration, Base Station, Base Station Capabilities, Base Station Configuration, Base Station Measurements, Cell, Cell Profile, Cell Capabilities, Cell Configuration, Cell Measurements, occupation levels or constituency of a WLAN system, or Mobile Country Code; determines whether a response to the request for context information should be transmitted; wherein the determination of whether the response should be transmitted comprises: determination of a geographic location of one or more of the requests; and evaluation of a need for context information based at least in part on the geographic location; and where the determination indicates that the response should be transmitted, transmit the response according to a determined message type, wherein the determined message type is selected from the group consisting of: a broadcast type, a multi-cast type and a unicast type. a processing apparatus coupled to both a storage medium and a wireless network interface, the storage medium having at least one computer program stored thereon, the at least one computer program that, when executed by the processing apparatus: stores requests from one or more portable devices, the requests comprising a request for context information from the base station, the context information comprising one or more data payloads useful for identifying information pertinent to one or more aspects of the wireless network or subscriber classes, the context information containing information on Composite Wireless Network, Operator, Operator Profile, Operator Capabilities, Assigned Channel, Assigned Channel Profile, Regulatory Rule, SA Policy, RAN, RAN Profile, RAN Configuration, Base Station, Base Station Capabilities, Base Station Configuration, Base Station Measurements, Cell, Cell Profile, Cell Capabilities, Cell Configuration, Cell Measurements, occupation levels or constituency of a WLAN system, or Mobile Country Code; determines whether a response to the request for context information should be transmitted; wherein the determination of whether the response should be transmitted comprises: determination of a geographic location of one or more of the requests; and evaluation of a need for context information based at least in part on the geographic location; and determination of a geographic location of one or more of the requests; and evaluation of a need for context information based at least in part on the geographic location; and where the determination indicates that the response should be transmitted, transmit the response according to a determined message type, wherein the determined message type is selected from the group consisting of: a broadcast type, a multi-cast type and a unicast type.