A method for connecting to a network from a mobile terminal capable of forming a high-performance radio channel in a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), and an apparatus implementing the same are provided. The method includes transmitting a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection request message indicating a first release version to the network, receiving an RRC connection setup message indicating a second release version from the network, comparing the first and second release versions, determining whether there is a third release version lower than the first release version and higher than the second release version when the second release version differs from the first, and, if there is the third release version lower than the first release version and higher than the second release version, transmitting an RRC connection request message indicating the third release version to the network when the second release version differs from the first release version.