In a cellular communication system, a UE device being served by a serving communication station is instructed to transmit an uplink signal in accordance with an uplink signal configuration. The uplink signal configuration information is sent to a non-serving communication station in an inactive state where the non-serving communication station cannot provide wireless service. The uplink signal configuration information allows the non-serving communication station to configure its receiver to receive the uplink signal from the UE. Based, at least in part, on information pertaining to the uplink signal received by the non-serving communication station and then sent to the serving communication station, the serving communication station determines whether the UE device is sufficiently near to the non-serving communication station to receive wireless service from the non-serving communication station, in which case the non-serving communication station is activated.