Abstract: A communication system is disclosed wherein plural base stations each communicate with plural associated mobile stations in a variable but well disciplined single channel time division multiplexing arrangement. Each base station communicates to and from its associated mobile stations in an associated unitary communication cycle having time segments of variable size but allotted for specific purposes. The mobile stations include clocks which are all periodically synchronized by the base station. The base station transmits cycle timing information at the beginning of each cycle so that the mobiles can determine by referring to their clocks when the various cycle segments begin and end. The number of mobile stations participating in a communication cycle with a given base station can vary as the mobiles move from the service area of one base station to the next.