There is disclosed, for use in a CDMA wireless network, a base station capable of performing a soft handoff of a mobile station while the mobile station is still in the process of first accessing the wireless network. The base station comprises a receiver for receiving from the mobile station a system access message that initiates in the wireless network a system access procedure that establishes a communications channel between the mobile station and the CDMA-based wireless network. The base station also comprises a handoff controller, coupled to the receiver and receiving the system access message therefrom. The handoff controller prepares another selected base station in the CDMA-based wireless network to take control over the system access procedure by sending a handoff control message that initiates in the selected base station a handoff procedure capable of assuming control over the system access procedure. This handoff procedure is speculatively initiated in anticipation of a later handoff by the mobile station.