A method performed by a HNB for reducing the number of core network update requests comprising: setting a macro location timer and a local location timer to predetermined values, whereby the value of the local location timer is smaller than the value of the macro location timer; each time the local periodic timer expires at an UE, receiving, from the UE, at the HNB of a small cell of a plurality of small cells, each having a separate HNB, a message including a mobility area update request from the user equipment, UE, wherein the plurality of small cells constitute a preconfigured cluster of small cells; on receipt of this message for the first time after having moved into coverage of the HNB, registering location information of the UE with a small cell gateway in communication with the preconfigured cluster of small cells; in response, retrieving a time at which the last mobility update request was reported to the core network from a mobility server in communication with the preconfigured cluster of small cells, whereby this time was received by the mobility server from another HNB of the cluster; if it is determined that the time between the last core network update and the expected time of the next mobility update request is greater than the value to which the macro location timer was set: (a) forwarding the mobility area update request to a core network via the small cell gateway, (b) receiving a core network-generated mobility area update accept message from the core network in response to the mobility area update request, and (c) updating the core network periodic timer for the UE in the mobility server with a time at which the core network-generated mobility area update accept message was received; otherwise: (a) generating a locally-generated mobility area update accept message in response to the mobility area update request; updating the location information of the UE with the mobility server; and sending: (i) the locally generated mobility area update accept message to the UE, and (ii) the local periodic timer to the UE instructing the UE to send another mobility area update request when the local periodic timer expires. setting a macro location timer and a local location timer to predetermined values, whereby the value of the local location timer is smaller than the value of the macro location timer; each time the local periodic timer expires at an UE, receiving, from the UE, at the HNB of a small cell of a plurality of small cells, each having a separate HNB, a message including a mobility area update request from the user equipment, UE, wherein the plurality of small cells constitute a preconfigured cluster of small cells; on receipt of this message for the first time after having moved into coverage of the HNB, registering location information of the UE with a small cell gateway in communication with the preconfigured cluster of small cells; in response, retrieving a time at which the last mobility update request was reported to the core network from a mobility server in communication with the preconfigured cluster of small cells, whereby this time was received by the mobility server from another HNB of the cluster; if it is determined that the time between the last core network update and the expected time of the next mobility update request is greater than the value to which the macro location timer was set: (a) forwarding the mobility area update request to a core network via the small cell gateway, (b) receiving a core network-generated mobility area update accept message from the core network in response to the mobility area update request, and (c) updating the core network periodic timer for the UE in the mobility server with a time at which the core network-generated mobility area update accept message was received; otherwise: (a) generating a locally-generated mobility area update accept message in response to the mobility area update request; updating the location information of the UE with the mobility server; and sending: (i) the locally generated mobility area update accept message to the UE, and (ii) the local periodic timer to the UE instructing the UE to send another mobility area update request when the local periodic timer expires. (a) forwarding the mobility area update request to a core network via the small cell gateway, (b) receiving a core network-generated mobility area update accept message from the core network in response to the mobility area update request, and (c) updating the core network periodic timer for the UE in the mobility server with a time at which the core network-generated mobility area update accept message was received; (a) generating a locally-generated mobility area update accept message in response to the mobility area update request; (i) the locally generated mobility area update accept message to the UE, and (ii) the local periodic timer to the UE instructing the UE to send another mobility area update request when the local periodic timer expires.