Methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses are described for wireless communications in which a wireless device may identify a small cell (e.g., SCell) and establish an independent connection with the small cell based at least in part on selection parameters received from a macro cell (e.g., PCell). The selection parameters may include power and/or quality parameters, as wells as a set of candidate cells from which to make the selection. The macro and small cells may be in communication with each other but need not be associated with the same base station (i.e., are not collocated). Once the small cell connection is established, the device may communicate with both cells concurrently. Available uplink data and/or downlink data may trigger the need for the device to connect with the small cell. For example, the small cell connection may be used to communicate uplink/downlink data associated with certain quality-of-service (QoS) and/or bearer identifier.