A system and method for maintaining a packet protocol context, such as a PDP (Packet Data Protocol) context, is provided. A mobile device communicates over a packet protocol context. If there has been no data activity over the packet protocol context for a timeout duration, then the network may deactivate the packet protocol context. The mobile device can re-establish the packet protocol context; however, excessively re-establishing the packet protocol context places a burden on the network. According to an embodiment of the application, the mobile device determines the timeout duration, for example by measuring the timeout duration. Upon data inactivity for a time period near the timeout duration, the mobile device transmits a packet over the packet protocol context so as to maintain the packet protocol context. Accordingly, the load on the network can be reduced by achieving a suitable frequency of short data transmission from the mobile device.