A method of wireless communications by a user equipment (UE) includes transmitting a wakeup message to awaken a base station from a sleep mode. The method also includes communicating with the base station after the base station awakens. A method of wireless communications by a base station includes entering a sleep mode when no user equipments (UEs) are connected to the base station. The method also includes receiving a signal from a UE to awaken from the sleep mode. The method further includes resuming signal transmissions after waking up from the sleep mode.