diff --git a/openair2/COMMON/e1ap_messages_types.h b/openair2/COMMON/e1ap_messages_types.h
index 5b727a3818..cc48a6f9e9 100644
--- a/openair2/COMMON/e1ap_messages_types.h
+++ b/openair2/COMMON/e1ap_messages_types.h
@@ -55,6 +55,12 @@
 
 typedef net_ip_address_t e1ap_net_ip_address_t;
 
+typedef enum BEARER_CONTEXT_STATUS_e {
+  BEARER_ACTIVE = 0,
+  BEARER_SUSPEND,
+  BEARER_RESUME,
+} BEARER_CONTEXT_STATUS_t;
+
 typedef struct PLMN_ID_s {
   int mcc;
   int mnc;
@@ -240,6 +246,7 @@ typedef struct e1ap_bearer_setup_req_s {
   char     integrityProtectionKey[128];
   long     ueDlAggMaxBitRate;
   PLMN_ID_t servingPLMNid;
+  BEARER_CONTEXT_STATUS_t bearerContextStatus;
   long activityNotificationLevel;
   int numPDUSessions;
   pdu_session_to_setup_t pduSession[E1AP_MAX_NUM_PDU_SESSIONS];
diff --git a/openair2/E1AP/e1ap.c b/openair2/E1AP/e1ap.c
index 1c9ff19bff..c47e618e8e 100644
--- a/openair2/E1AP/e1ap.c
+++ b/openair2/E1AP/e1ap.c
@@ -1192,7 +1192,7 @@ static int fill_BEARER_CONTEXT_MODIFICATION_REQUEST(e1ap_bearer_setup_req_t *con
   ieC2->value.present              = E1AP_BearerContextModificationRequestIEs__value_PR_GNB_CU_UP_UE_E1AP_ID;
   ieC2->value.choice.GNB_CU_UP_UE_E1AP_ID = bearerCxt->gNB_cu_up_ue_id;
   /* optional */
-  /*  */
+  /* c3. E1AP_ProtocolIE_ID_id_System_BearerContextModificationRequest */
   asn1cSequenceAdd(out->protocolIEs.list, E1AP_BearerContextModificationRequestIEs_t, ieC3);
   ieC3->id            = E1AP_ProtocolIE_ID_id_System_BearerContextModificationRequest;
   ieC3->criticality   = E1AP_Criticality_reject;
@@ -1230,6 +1230,15 @@ static int fill_BEARER_CONTEXT_MODIFICATION_REQUEST(e1ap_bearer_setup_req_t *con
       }
     }
   }
+  /* c4. E1AP_ProtocolIE_ID_id_BearerContextStatusChange */
+  if (bearerCxt->bearerContextStatus == BEARER_SUSPEND) {
+    asn1cSequenceAdd(out->protocolIEs.list, E1AP_BearerContextModificationRequestIEs_t, ieC4);
+    ieC4->id            = E1AP_ProtocolIE_ID_id_BearerContextStatusChange;
+    ieC4->criticality   = E1AP_Criticality_reject;
+    ieC4->value.present = E1AP_BearerContextModificationRequestIEs__value_PR_BearerContextStatusChange;
+    /* Bearer Context Status Change */
+    ieC4->value.choice.BearerContextStatusChange = E1AP_BearerContextStatusChange_suspend;
+  }
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1390,6 +1399,13 @@ static void extract_BEARER_CONTEXT_MODIFICATION_REQUEST(const E1AP_E1AP_PDU_t *p
         }
         break;
 
+      case E1AP_ProtocolIE_ID_id_BearerContextStatusChange:
+        /* Bearer Context Status Change */
+        DevAssert(ie->criticality == E1AP_Criticality_reject);
+        DevAssert(ie->value.present == E1AP_BearerContextModificationRequestIEs__value_PR_BearerContextStatusChange);
+        bearerCxt->bearerContextStatus = (ie->value.choice.BearerContextStatusChange == E1AP_BearerContextStatusChange_suspend) ? BEARER_SUSPEND : BEARER_ACTIVE;
+        break;
+
       default:
         LOG_E(E1AP, "Handle for this IE is not implemented (or) invalid IE detected\n");
         break;