A radio access network has a reverse link frequency band for receiving signals from mobile stations and has first and second forward link frequency bands for transmitting signals to mobile stations. The second forward link frequency band has a greater frequency bandwidth than the first forward link frequency band and occupies a different part of the radio frequency spectrum. For certain types of communication sessions, such as voice and low-speed data, the reverse link frequency band and the first forward link frequency band are used. For other types of communication sessions, such as high-speed data and streaming video, the reverse link frequency band and the second forward link frequency band are used.