A method for setting-up a tunnel connection for transporting data packets over a high latency network connection in a communication network comprises the step of, at a module or node configured on a tunnel connection initiator side of the high latency network connection, using a non-TCP connection to encapsulate a set-up connection message for sending to a module or node configured on a core network (CN) side of the backhaul network to offset-up a data packet transport tunnel connection between the initiator side of the high latency network connection and core network (CN) side of the high latency network connection.