A radio connection is supported between the mobile station and a source base station associated with a source cell. The mobile station transmits information to the source base station over a shared uplink data communications channel used by multiple mobiles. A handover message is received from the source base station indicating that the source base station has initiated a handover of the radio connection over to a target base station for the target base station to support the radio connection. The handover fails. In response, a message is sent from the mobile station to the source base station requesting that the source base station continue to support the radio connection without requiring the mobile station to perform a radio channel procedure competing with other mobile stations requesting a new radio connection be supported by the source base station.