Generally, the described techniques provide for a core network signaling to a base station a delay budget configuration that indicates a determined latency for communications between a core network, base station, and a user equipment (UE). In some cases, the core network may determine a first variable delay budget between the core network and a base station based on capability information associated with the wireless communications system. The core network may transmit the delay budget configuration to the base station, where the delay budget configuration may include the first delay budget. The base station may be able to determine a delay between the UE and the base station based on the delay budget configuration. Using the delay budget configuration, the base station may then schedule communications with the UE.