A method for communicating in a wireless communication network includes establishing a first direct communication link with a base transceiver station and communicating data associated with a communication session over the first direct communication link. The method also includes establishing a mesh connection to the base transceiver station. The mesh connection includes at least one mesh communication link with at least one intermediate communication device of a plurality of communication devices in the wireless network, the at least one intermediate communication device communicating with the base transceiver station over a second direct communication link with the base transceiver station. The method further includes switching between communicating data associated with the communication session over the first direct communication link and communicating data associated with the communication session over the mesh connection.