Abstract: A base station produces a power control bit dependent on SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) determined for each time slot of a signal received from a remote station of a cellular communications system. If the SNR exceeds an upper threshold by an upper threshold margin, the power control bit is a binary 0 and the upper threshold margin is increased; if the SNR is below a lower threshold by a lower threshold margin, the power control bit is a binary 1 and the lower threshold margin is increased; and otherwise the power control bit alternates its binary value for successive time slots and setting the threshold margins are reset. In the remote station, the power control bits are accumulated by a bidirectional counter and the transmitted signal power is only changed up or down in response to the count exceeding a respective threshold.