A method includes receiving on an uplink communication path one or more packets from a user equipment, and determining radio link resources to be allocated on the uplink communication path for the user equipment. The determination is based at least in part on an information content of the one or more packets. The determined radio link resources are allocated. Another method is disclosed including receiving at a network access element on a first uplink communication path a bandwidth request from a user equipment. The bandwidth request is for a second uplink communication path used for packet traffic from the user equipment to the network access element. Radio link resources to be allocated on the second uplink communication path for the user equipment are determined, the determination is based at least in part on the bandwidth request. The determined radio link resources are allocated on the second uplink communication path.