A system and method for delivering incoming calls to mobile unit(s) in border cells using packet-based links. An incoming call is received at a serving mobile switching center (SMSC) (204) for a mobile unit (214) in a border cell served by a border mobile switching center (BMSC) (206). The SMSC allocates (420) processing resources for the incoming call using a voice coder/frame selector (218) and designates a data link connection identifier (DLCI) identifying the voice coder resources to be used for the call. The SMSC sends (422) the DLCI to the BMSC and the BMSC assigns traffic channel resources for the call via an attached base station (208). The BMSC provides (424) the DLCI to the base station, causing the base station to establish a packet link between the voice coder and the traffic channel resources. Thereafter, the BMSC rings (426) the mobile unit. Upon the mobile unit answering (430) and the BMSC so informing (432) the SMSC, the SMSC connects the incoming call to the packet link, thereby completing the call path to the mobile unit.