A first cell determines that UE(s) should have HARQ cycle(s) skipped, where each of the UE(s) is to take part in a CoMP transmission. Skipping is to be performed to enable the first cell to receive information from second cell(s) over backhaul link(s) for the HARQ transmission(s). A first HARQ cycle is scheduled and participated in for the UE(s) in order to receive a transmission at the first cell from the UE(s). The HARQ cycle(s) is/are skipped for the UE(s) by sending, prior to decoding information from the uplink CoMP transmissions, an acknowledgement to the UE(s) and not scheduling the UE(s) for a PDCCH grant for the HARQ cycle(s). The skipping depends on one or more of: a backhaul latency, a load in the first cell, a type of UE, or a request to the second cell(s). Apparatus and program products are also disclosed.