A mobile station or other network node transmits a request to update the quality of service associated with an existing radio access bearer. In response to the request, the radio access bearer is updated without tearing down the established radio access bearer. Some applications can be associated with one or more quality of service indicia, so that as service demands change in use of a single application, requests for quality of service updates can be transmitted by, for example, a mobile station. Updates can be initiated by other user equipment or by network nodes such as gateway GPRS support nodes. Service interruptions can be reduced by preserving a radio access bearer (RAB), which is particularly useful for a stationary mobile station that continues to communicate with the same serving GPRS support node.