Abstract: The present invention is for shaping a packet time out threshold in a wireless telecommunications network including a TCP session. First, a TCP communications session (18) is identified during which first and second communications nodes (12, 14) communicate with one another by transmitting and receiving data packets across first and second channels (22, 24) of a wireless network (16). Next, a processor (26) located either in one of the communications nodes (12, 14) or in a network base station subsystem (20) determines delay characteristics of each of first and second channels (22, 24) of the communications session. Once the delay characteristics are determined, the processor (20) causes a delay packet to be transmitted on a slower of the first and second channels (22, 24) at predetermined intervals to increase an average time delay associated with both the first and second channels (22, 24). Consequently, the number of unnecessary packet time outs on the first and second channels (22, 24) is minimized.