A method for geographically dispersing radio access network, RAN, node functions of a RAN node of a Public Land Mobile Network, PLMN, the method comprising: instantiating at least one radio access network node, RANN, control plane function entity (704, 708, 712) of the RAN node in a first geographic location of the PLMN, the at least one RANN control plane function entity (704, 708, 712) configured to implement control plane functions pertaining to at least one User Equipment, UE, Protocol Data Unit, PDU, session associated with a UE; selecting at least one RANN user plane function entity (706, 710) from among a plurality of RANN user plane function entities (706, 710) to be instantiated at the second geographic location of the PLMN different than the first geographic location based on one or more of: a location of the at least one RANN control plane function entity (704, 708, 712); a location of a core network user plane entity associated with the at least one UE PDU session; a security requirement associated with the at least one UE PDU session; a user plane traffic requirement of the at least one UE PDU session; a capability of the at least one RANN user plane function entity (706, 710); a traffic load at the second location; and instantiating the at least one RANN user plane function entity (706, 710) of the RAN node in a second geographic location of the PLMN different than the first geographic location, the at least one RANN user plane function entity configured to implement user plane functions pertaining to the at least one UE PDU session. instantiating at least one radio access network node, RANN, control plane function entity (704, 708, 712) of the RAN node in a first geographic location of the PLMN, the at least one RANN control plane function entity (704, 708, 712) configured to implement control plane functions pertaining to at least one User Equipment, UE, Protocol Data Unit, PDU, session associated with a UE; selecting at least one RANN user plane function entity (706, 710) from among a plurality of RANN user plane function entities (706, 710) to be instantiated at the second geographic location of the PLMN different than the first geographic location based on one or more of: a location of the at least one RANN control plane function entity (704, 708, 712); a location of a core network user plane entity associated with the at least one UE PDU session; a security requirement associated with the at least one UE PDU session; a user plane traffic requirement of the at least one UE PDU session; a capability of the at least one RANN user plane function entity (706, 710); a traffic load at the second location; and a location of the at least one RANN control plane function entity (704, 708, 712); a location of a core network user plane entity associated with the at least one UE PDU session; a security requirement associated with the at least one UE PDU session; a user plane traffic requirement of the at least one UE PDU session; a capability of the at least one RANN user plane function entity (706, 710); a traffic load at the second location; and instantiating the at least one RANN user plane function entity (706, 710) of the RAN node in a second geographic location of the PLMN different than the first geographic location, the at least one RANN user plane function entity configured to implement user plane functions pertaining to the at least one UE PDU session.