Abstract: In a digital half-duplex frequency division multiple access radio system a mobile station is either sending or receiving. For each call between a mobile station and a base station, a first frequency is allocated for the up link direction (from the mobile station to the base station) and a second frequency is allocated for the down link direction (from the base station to the mobile station). The signals exchanged by the stations are organized in frames of predetermined fixed duration grouped into multiframes comprising a predetermined number of frames including at least one control frame. At least some of the control frames are listening frames during which the sending mobile station interrupts sending, switches to receive mode and (if appropriate) reverts to send mode.