A method of selective dormant data session reactivation in a radio access network includes calculating an activation rate threshold as a function of a first plurality of packets received over a first time interval, where the first plurality of packets are coupled to reactivate at least one dormant mobile station. The second plurality of packets received in a second time interval are buffered, where each of the second plurality of packets has a destination IP address to reactivate the at least one dormant mobile station. An arrival rate of the second plurality of packets in the second time interval is compared to the activation rate threshold. If the arrival rate exceeds the activation rate threshold, the second plurality of packets may be separated into a plurality of source IP groups according to their respective source IP addresses, and progressively discarding in descending order one of the plurality of source IP groups having a highest number of the second plurality of packets until the arrival rate is below the activation rate threshold.