Apparatuses and methods for providing layered mobility are provided. Small cell eNBs belong to a cluster of local area base stations. A source eNB has a connection with user equipment having a first identity related to the connection and receives from the user equipment a request to send a scheduling request to another local area eNB of the cluster, the request including a list of target candidate eNBs. The source eNB determines suitable target eNB(s) from the list and resources for sending a scheduling request; and transmits The target eNB receives a scheduling request from user equipment allocates and sends communication resources to the user equipment and associates the first identity to the connection with the user equipment.