A first session is established for a first mobile access terminal on a first radio network controller via a first radio node. A first traffic channel is established between the first mobile access terminal and the first radio network controller. A first plurality of packets are sent and received over the first traffic channel. The first plurality of packets travel between a first radio node and the first radio network controller without passing through a second radio network controller. The first traffic channel is maintained as the first access terminal moves from a coverage area of the first radio node to a coverage area of a second radio node. A second plurality of packets travel between the second radio node and the first radio network controller without passing through another radio network controller. In a radio access network, multiple radio network controllers are connected to several radio nodes using a network. The interconnected radio network controllers and radio nodes are addressable, and, therefore, each radio network controller can communicate directly with each radio node and visa versa. The radio access network can be configured to avoid active handoffs between radio network controllers by maintaining a traffic channel set up between an access terminal and a radio network controller even as the flow.
