Some embodiments provide methods for selecting tracking areas in a network, including: generating and storing a plurality of tracking area groups based on which tracking areas of a plurality of tracking areas are served by which base transceiver stations of a plurality of base transceiver stations, each tracking area group including at least one tracking area; receiving a request for a tracking area list from user equipment connected to the network from a first tracking area belonging to a first tracking area group of the stored plurality of tracking area groups; based on the stored plurality of tracking area groups and the first tracking area group, generating a list comprising at least one tracking area; and sending the list comprising at least one tracking area to the user equipment.