A method for identifying ephemeral terminations in a packet-based network includes identifying the Radio Network Controller with an RNC indicator in a first level, identifying the one or more ICCs with an ICC indicator in a second level, identifying the one or more PMCs with a PMC indicator in a third level, and identifying the one or more local components with a local component indicator in a fourth level. The first level, second level, third level and fourth level form different portions of the termination identifier. The termination identifier is structured so that the one or more local components identified in the fourth level are associated with the one or more PMCs identified in the third level, and the one or more PMCs identified in the third level are associated with the one or more ICCs identified in the second level and the one or more ICCs identified in the second level are associated with the one or more RNCs identified in the first level.