Techniques to support fast state transition by a user equipment (UE) are described. The UE may operate in a first state (e.g., a CELL_PCH state) in which the UE does not transmit or receive user data. The UE may receive a paging message carrying first configuration information. The UE may transition from the first state to a second state (e.g., a CELL_DCH state) in response to receiving the paging message. The UE may determine a set of communication parameters based on the first configuration information received from the paging message and second configuration information stored at the UE. The UE may then exchange user data based on the set of communication parameters. The UE may use default values for some parameters in order to reduce the amount of first configuration information to send in the paging message.