Abstract: A digital radiotelephone system employs vocoders to convert between analog speech and a digital format suitable for transmission via radio. Under most circumstances, the highest data rate is selected for optimum audio quality. When the system occupancy exceeds a particular threshold, as detected at the fixed site of the system, some or all of the vocoders are instructed to switch to a lower data rate to provide for an increase in the number of communication channels. Further, a portable subscriber unit may autonomously change its vocoder data rate depending upon the charge state of its battery.