A radio network provides centralized load control in order to control uplink interference in a cell while at the same time permitting adaptation to fast channel variations. The radio network sends to a mobile terminal a percentage of time that the mobile terminal may transmit over a radio channel in the uplink direction to the radio network. The mobile determines a current or future condition of the radio channel and restricts uplink transmissions based on the received percentage and the radio channel condition. Transmissions are restricted to times when the current or future condition is favorable up to the percentage amount. Channel condition favorability may be determined by the mobile station, in one example embodiment, by comparing the radio channel condition to an average condition of the channel, such as a local or moving average channel condition. Also in an example embodiment, the mobile may determine a current or future channel condition using transmit power control commands received from the radio network.