Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device including a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations of receiving signal to noise and interference ratio (SINR) measurements from a cell for two or more uplink carriers associated with a mobile device; determining an optimal uplink carrier from the two or more uplink carriers based on plural parameters, wherein the plural parameters include the SINR measurements; selecting the optimal uplink carrier from the two or more uplink carriers; and sending the optimal uplink carrier selected to the cell, wherein the mobile device uses the optimal uplink carrier for uplink transmissions. Other embodiments are disclosed.