Radio telecommunications system and method of operating the same with polling

A radio telecommunications network comprising at least one base station in communication with at least one user equipment, the network comprising an apparatus for transmitting data blocks on a communications channel having a radio link between the apparatus and at least one user equipment, the apparatus comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive first data blocks from the user equipment;
• a transmitter configured to transmit second data blocks to the user equipment and to transmit polling messages to the user equipment to request that the user equipment
• acknowledge receipt of the second data blocks;
• a transmission controller configured to dynamically set at least one polling interval for transmission of the polling messages to the user equipment after transmission of the second data blocks, wherein the transmission controller is configured to set the at least one polling interval responsive to at least an estimated used transmission capacity value for a radio coverage area of a cellular radio network in which the apparatus is located.

A method of transmitting data blocks over a communications channel having a radio link enabling transmissions to and from at least one user equipment, the method comprising:

• receiving first data blocks from the user equipment;
• transmitting second data blocks to the user equipment;
• transmitting polling messages to the user equipment to request that the user equipment acknowledge receipt of the second data blocks;
• and
• dynamically setting at least one polling interval for transmission of the polling messages to the user equipment after transmission of the second data blocks, wherein said dynamically setting the at least one polling interval is performed responsive to at least an estimated used transmission capacity value for a radio coverage area of a cellular radio network.