A method is provided for use in a telecommunications network in which an Sh interface is used for communications between a database client (22) and a database server (20) of the network. The database server has access to at least one database for storing user data such as repository data and user profile data associated with different users of the network. The Sh interface is used to convey at least one of the following types of extended data management information between the database client (22) and the database server (20): first information enabling the database client (22) to use the database server to perform a database operation on a part or parts of the user data; second information enabling the database server (20) to provide a partial response to a request for user data from the database client (22); third information enabling the database server (20) to control the flow of requests from the database client (22); and fourth information enabling the database server (20) to choose the type of database used to store user data it receives from the database client (22).
