Various embodiments are described to address the need for an apparatus and method for providing uplink communication resources that reduce some of the existing delays in acquiring these resources. In general, they may involve a RAN (121) transmitting data to a remote unit (101) via a downlink communication resource. After transmitting the data and with no additional data ready for transmission, the RAN begins transmitting assignment messages to the remote unit for an uplink resource. However, these assignment messages are not transmitted in response to uplink resource requests from the remote unit. In addition to or alternatively, the RAN detects a regular pattern in uplink activity of the remote unit and then begins predicting, based on the pattern, when the remote unit will next need an uplink resource. When the remote unit is predicted to need an uplink resource, the RAN transmits an assignment message to the remote unit.