Abstract: An method of establishing a radio bearer (RB) resource in an RAN to support communication with a mobile terminal uses a radio bearer resource request message to expedite RB resource allocation. The mobile terminal transmits a packet channel access request message that uniquely identifies the access request type as a RB access request. The requested RB may be a signaling radio bearer (SRB), in which case the RB access request message may identify the specific type of SRB desired. More generally, the RB access request message identifies the access request type as a RB resource request, which is enough to alert the RAN that RB resources are required. The RAN then sends an uplink packet channel assignment and the mobile terminal specifies the RB resource details by transmitting RLC header information on the assigned uplink channel.