In a cellular communication system, a UE device being served by a serving communication station is instructed to transmit an uplink signal in accordance with an uplink signal configuration. The uplink signal configuration information is sent to a non-serving communication station in an inactive state where the non-serving communication station cannot provide wireless service. The uplink signal configuration information allows the non-serving communication station to configure its receiver to receive the up-link signal from the UE. Based, at least in part, on information pertaining to the uplink signal received by the non-serving communication station and then sent to the serving communication station, the serving communication station determines whether the UE device is sufficiently near to the non-serving communication station to receive wireless service from the non-serving communication station, in which case the non-serving communication station is activated.