To address the need to support multiple packet data service instances in a more efficient manner, various signaling enhancements are provided. These enhancements will result in faster packet data call setups, reactivations, and dormant handoffs of multiple service instances while reducing over-the-air signalling. For originations of multiple packet data service connections, the mobile (101) requests the setup of up to six service instances with a single origination message (e.g., 400). For packet data dormant handoffs, the mobile requests the handoff of up to six service instances using a single message. And for reactivations, the mobile requests the reconnection of multiple, dormant packet data service instances with a single message.