A base station in a wireless communication network saves connection information that enables it to recognize currently authenticated mobile stations. The base station carries out localized connection management processing for authenticated mobile stations, at least for certain types of packet data connection events. By carrying out localized processing, the base station skips the connection management signaling between it and a supporting mobile switching center that would otherwise be required for processing such events. Thus, in a cdma2000 base station embodying such localized processing, the MSC's involvement in packet data connection state transitions, short data burst deliveries, etc., can be eliminated or at least greatly reduced, thereby minimizing the MSC's role in supporting packet data services. In conjunction with localized processing, the base station still may require MSC-based re-authentication by individual mobile stations according to some timed schedule, or according to some form of packet data activity monitoring.