Wireless communication method and system for controlling data bit rates to maintain the quality of radio links

A method of using a radio network controller (RNC) for controlling a current data bit rate of a radio link (RL) to maintain the quality of the RL within a desired quality range, the method comprising:

• the RNC negotiating data bit rates with a core network (CN) over an established path such that the quality of the RL remains within the desired quality range;
• the RNC determining a target data bit rate needed to maintain the quality of the RL within the desired quality range;
• on a condition that the target data bit rate is outside of the desired quality range, the RNC renegotiating the data bit rates with the CN;
• on a condition that the target data bit rate is within the desired quality range, the RNC setting the current data bit rate to the target data bit rate and reconfiguring a specific coded composite transport channel (CCTrCH) associated with the RL by removing at least one transport format combination (TFC) from a transport format combination set (TFCS) associated with the specific CCTrCH,
• initiating a waiting period;
• and
• initiating a handover procedure for the RL on a condition that the bit rates are not renegotiated before the waiting period expires.