How we can decide to choose direct data forwarding in case of S1 Handover?

Question

In case of S1 Handover, we have two path for data forwarding "direct" or "Indirect". How we can decide to choose direct data forwarding? Is it based on X2 Connection ( UP or Down ) OR based on any other configuration parameter?

Answer 1

Source ENodeB chooses data forwarding as direct if x2 connection is available (X2 Setup Request and Response exchanged) else selects indirect.

Ref: 23.401
"The availability of a direct forwarding path is determined in the source eNodeB and indicated to the source MME. If X2 connectivity is available between the source and target eNodeBs, a direct forwarding path is available."