An apparatus and method for establishing a connection including reserving a common connection for use by more than one access terminal (AT); associating the common connection with a network identifier corresponding to the AT; deleting a network identifier-related context while maintaining the network identifier; and transmitting a message, based on a call to the AT, via the common connection and based on the network identifier, wherein a specific connection for carrying the call is based on a response to the message. In one example, the apparatus and method include conducting a registration session with a wireless communications network; obtaining a network identifier corresponding to the AT based on the registration session; deleting a network identifier-related context for the AT while maintaining the network identifier; receiving a message indicating a call destined for the AT; and establishing, based on the message, a specific connection for carrying the call.