Various aspects of the present disclosure enable a plurality of mobile devices (UEs) within a cell to spread out in time their respective transmissions of signaling messages, such as cell update messages, when the network enables or disables enhanced uplink (EUL, sometimes referred to as high-speed uplink packet access or HSUPA) while the UE is in the CELL_FACH state, by changing SIB5 or SIB5bis. In this way, the network load may be reduced, and a network blockage that otherwise might result from large numbers of UEs simultaneously transmitting the cell update message can be avoided. According to one example, a network node may be configured to distribute CELL_UPDATE messages or procedures to UEs when the network node enables or disables EUL in CELL_FACH by changing SIB5 or SIB5bis over time to reduce the network load. According to another example, a UE may be configured for utilizing a random timer or back-off timer to defer cell updates.