A packet data network gateway, P-GW, located in a second network for supporting user plane data to terminal devices in a wireless communications system that additionally comprises a first network having a first packet data network gateway, P-GW operably coupled via a backhaul link to the P-GW; the P-GW comprising a processor arranged to: build local context information for the terminal devices from signalling that traverses through the first P-GW, the backhaul link and the P-GW; and determine an operational status of at least one of: the backhaul link, the first P-GW, wherein if the operational status indicates that the at least one of: the backhaul link, the first P-GW is unavailable, the processor is further arranged to: check (712, 808) a destination internet protocol, IP, address of received packets from the first P-GW in order to determine whether the local context information exists for the destination IP address identified in the received packets and whether the received packets are destined for any of the terminal devices, and wherein the P-GW is characterised in that, in response thereto, the processor is further arranged to: discard received packets that are not destined for any of the terminal devices where the local context information does not exist for those received packets; and when the local context information does exist for those received packets and the received packets are destined for the destination IP address of any of the terminal devices served with user plane data; extract one or more properties of said received packets from a group of: one or more source port number(s), one or more protocol type packet properties; and invoke a bearer mapping function within the second network on any resultant data to route the resultant data to the destination IP address of the terminal devices served by the PGW based on at least one from a group of: one or more source IP address(es), one or more destination IP address(es), one or more source port number(s), one or more destination port number(s), one or more protocol type packet properties, packet analysis on said received packets. build local context information for the terminal devices from signalling that traverses through the first P-GW, the backhaul link and the P-GW; and determine an operational status of at least one of: the backhaul link, the first P-GW, wherein if the operational status indicates that the at least one of: the backhaul link, the first P-GW is unavailable, the processor is further arranged to: check (712, 808) a destination internet protocol, IP, address of received packets from the first P-GW in order to determine whether the local context information exists for the destination IP address identified in the received packets and whether the received packets are destined for any of the terminal devices, and check (712, 808) a destination internet protocol, IP, address of received packets from the first P-GW in order to determine whether the local context information exists for the destination IP address identified in the received packets and whether the received packets are destined for any of the terminal devices, and discard received packets that are not destined for any of the terminal devices where the local context information does not exist for those received packets; and when the local context information does exist for those received packets and the received packets are destined for the destination IP address of any of the terminal devices served with user plane data; extract one or more properties of said received packets from a group of: one or more source port number(s), one or more protocol type packet properties; and invoke a bearer mapping function within the second network on any resultant data to route the resultant data to the destination IP address of the terminal devices served by the PGW based on at least one from a group of: one or more source IP address(es), one or more destination IP address(es), one or more source port number(s), one or more destination port number(s), one or more protocol type packet properties, packet analysis on said received packets.