Dynamic provision of hybrid-ARQ repetition factor based on subscription service class

A method operable in a wireless communication system in which a radio access network (RAN) serves a mobile terminal over an air interface defining a downlink for carrying data transmissions from the RAN to the mobile terminal and an uplink for carrying hybrid-ARQ messaging from the mobile terminal to the RAN, and wherein the mobile terminal has a subscription service class, the method comprising:

• determining by the RAN, based at least in part on which subscription service class the mobile terminal has, a hybrid-ARQ repetition factor that the mobile terminal should use for the hybrid-ARQ messaging from the mobile terminal to the RAN, wherein the determining comprises (i) determining, as the hybrid-ARQ repetition factor, a first hybrid-ARQ repetition factor if the subscription service class is a first subscription service class, and (ii) determining, as the hybrid-ARQ repetition factor, a second hybrid-ARQ repetition factor different than the first hybrid-ARQ repetition factor if the subscription service class is a second subscription service class different than the first subscription service class;
• and
• transmitting over the air interface from the RAN to the mobile terminal a directive for the mobile terminal to use the determined hybrid-ARQ repetition factor,
• wherein for each of a plurality of data transmissions from the RAN to the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal transmits to the RAN a hybrid-ARQ message selected from the group consisting of a positive acknowledgement (ACK) and a negative acknowledgement (NAK), and
• wherein the hybrid-ARQ repetition factor defines how many times to transmit the hybrid-ARQ message for each such data transmission.