An apparatus for data communication that receives a plurality of pulses from a remote communications device, determines a pulse puncturing rate based on the pulses, and punctures or discards subsequent pulses based on the pulse puncturing rate. During intervals when punctured pulses are expected, the apparatus operates in a lower power consumption mode for the purpose of conserving power. In another aspect, a receiving apparatus determines the pulse puncturing rate based on received pulses, and transmits the pulse puncturing rate information to a transmitting apparatus. In response, the transmitting apparatus sends a subset of the pulses it would have transmitted based on the pulse puncturing rate. Because the receiving apparatus receives fewer pulses (e.g., a subset), the receiving apparatus may operate in a lower power consumption mode for longer periods in order to conserve power. Similarly, because the transmitting apparatus sends fewer pulses, it may also operate in a lower power consumption mode for longer periods.