An apparatus and a method for operating as a virtual terminal to participate in competition for medium access while a mobile terminal operates as an access point are provided. In a case where the mobile terminal accesses a medium while competing with a terminal that transmits data of low priority, an apparatus and a method for entering a low power mode to resolve a power consumption problem of the mobile terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a medium competing unit, which allows the mobile terminal to operate as a virtual terminal and participate in competition for a medium access when data to be transmitted does not exist in the mobile terminal operating as an Access Point (AP).