Abstract: A method of forcibly disconnecting a communications connection established between a mobile station and a mobile services switching network, depending on whether the communications connection initially allocated to the mobile station has deteriorated or that a call connection or a handover attempt has failed. With the intention of forcing the mobile station to relinquish the allocated channel, the network transmits to the mobile station a signal which activates a time monitoring process in the mobile station, which thereby sends an acknowledgement signal back to the network. When the network does not wish the mobile station to retain the allocated channel, a signal which would stop the time monitoring process is not sent to the mobile station, thereby resulting in the release of the communications channel. Also described is a mobile station which includes counter-circuits for effecting the time monitoring process.