diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 93735d571..ed97abfbc 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.
 - GAP: request role change for classic connection via `gap_request_role`
 - GAP: LE Whitelist API with 'gap_le_whitelist_x' with x = add, remove, clear and new `gap_connect_with_whitelist`
 - SDP Client: add sdp_client_register_query_callback() allows to register query request instead of polling sdp_client_ready()
+- BNEP lwIP: add `bnep_lwip_connect` to establish BNEP connection and manage lwIP network interface
 
 ### Changed
 - GAP: treat AES-CCM encrypted connection as mutually authenticated (BIAS)
diff --git a/platform/lwip/bnep_lwip.c b/platform/lwip/bnep_lwip.c
index bb2e9a5a2..fd1a5e8ee 100644
--- a/platform/lwip/bnep_lwip.c
+++ b/platform/lwip/bnep_lwip.c
@@ -528,3 +528,21 @@ void bnep_lwip_register_packet_handler(btstack_packet_handler_t handler){
 uint8_t bnep_lwip_register_service(uint16_t service_uuid, uint16_t max_frame_size){
     return bnep_register_service(packet_handler, service_uuid, max_frame_size);
 }
+
+/**
+ * @brief Creates BNEP connection (channel) to a given server on a remote device with baseband address. A new baseband connection will be initiated if necessary.
+ * @note: uses our packet handler to manage lwIP network interface
+ * @param addr
+ * @param l2cap_psm
+ * @param uuid_src
+ * @param uuid_dest
+ * @return status
+ */
+uint8_t bnep_lwip_connect(bd_addr_t addr, uint16_t l2cap_psm, uint16_t uuid_src, uint16_t uuid_dest){
+    int status = bnep_connect(packet_handler, addr, l2cap_psm, uuid_src, uuid_dest);
+    if (status != 0){
+        return ERROR_CODE_UNSPECIFIED_ERROR;
+    } else {
+        return ERROR_CODE_SUCCESS;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/platform/lwip/bnep_lwip.h b/platform/lwip/bnep_lwip.h
index 79f0fcbf1..f5cf07cc6 100644
--- a/platform/lwip/bnep_lwip.h
+++ b/platform/lwip/bnep_lwip.h
@@ -71,6 +71,14 @@ void bnep_lwip_register_packet_handler(btstack_packet_handler_t handler);
  */
 uint8_t bnep_lwip_register_service(uint16_t service_uuid, uint16_t max_frame_size);
 
+/**
+ * @brief Creates BNEP connection (channel) to a given server on a remote device with baseband address. A new baseband connection will be initiated if necessary.
+ * @param addr
+ * @param l2cap_psm
+ * @param uuid_src
+ * @param uuid_dest
+ */
+uint8_t bnep_lwip_connect(bd_addr_t addr, uint16_t l2cap_psm, uint16_t uuid_src, uint16_t uuid_dest);
 
 #if defined __cplusplus
 }