Systems and methods for dynamically controlling active-to-dormant timers in radio access networks

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for dynamically controlling active-to-dormant timers in radio access networks (RANs). One embodiment takes the form of a method that involves a system detecting a triggering event, and responsively identifying a current access-channel occupancy (ACHO). The method further involves the system increasing an active-to-dormant timer for at least one access terminal when the identified current ACHO exceeds a first threshold, and decreasing an active-to-dormant timer for at least one access terminal when the identified current ACHO is less than a second threshold.