In various embodiments, a system, network node, and method of providing voice communications in a wireless packet communications system includes registering a communications path between a gateway (GW) and a base station (BS); establishing a real-time service flow in the BS; activating the real-time service flow over an air interface between the BS and a terminal device; requesting, by the terminal device, that zero bandwidth be allocated by the BS to the activated real-time service flow in the absence of voice traffic to or from the terminal device; requesting, by the terminal device, that sufficient bandwidth be allocated by the BS to the activated real-time service flow when voice traffic to or from the terminal device is detected by the terminal device; and transmitting and/or receiving the voice traffic over the registered communications path via the activated real-time service flow.