Methods, systems, and devices are described for generating keep-alive messages for a plurality of persistent connections. The plurality of persistent connections associated with at least one application on a wireless device in a network hosting the plurality of persistent connections are identified. A timing schedule specific to the network to transmit keep-alive messages to refresh each persistent connection of the plurality of persistent connections is identified. A generation of the keep-alive messages for each persistent connection of the plurality of persistent connections is synchronized. The synchronized generation of the keep-alive messages occurs according to the identified timing schedule of the network.