A method and apparatus for reducing latency when setting up a Push-to-Talk (PTT) session from a User Equipment (UE) in a WCDMA radio communication network. When a user opens a PTT application or accesses the contacts page, the UE obtains a radio bearer from the network. The UE may maintain the radio bearer until the session is requested by transmitting periodic Heartbeat messages to the network. The Heartbeat messages have a length sufficient to trigger the network to place the user terminal on a Dedicated Channel (DCH), and the time period between Heartbeat messages is short enough to prevent the UE from being removed from the DCH for inactivity. When the user presses the PTT button, a SIP INVITE message is immediately sent without delay.