Systems and methods are provided that may reduce unnecessary resource consumption and network traffic in a communications network, such as an LTE network. Initiating a tracking area update (TAU) procedure may be avoided in instances where a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle length chosen by a user equipment (UE) would be ignored in accordance with standards governing paging in the communications networks. To determine whether or not a TAU should be initiated, three parameters may be considered. A first parameter may be the DRX cycle length that is already configured in a mobility management entity (MME). A second parameter may be a DRX cycle length chosen by the UE that the UE wishes to indicate to the MME. A third parameter may be a DRX cycle length that is broadcast by an evolved Node B serving a cell in which the UE is operating.