DYNAMIC ADAPTATION OF DOWNLINK RLC PDU SIZE

Embodiments herein dynamically adapt the size of downlink Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol data units (PDUs) sent by a radio network controller (RNC) to a user equipment (UE) via a base station. Notably, the RNC effectively matches downlink RLC PDU size to the radio conditions at the UE using one or more indirect indicators of those radio conditions. Example indirect indicators include active set size, common pilot channel power, and the number of positive RLC PDU acknowledgments received, to name a few. The embodiments therefore prove particularly advantageous to wireless communication systems based on existing standards that already provide the RNC with such indirect indicators, since no new or additional control signaling need be introduced. Method embodiments herein thus include determining one or more indirect indicators of radio conditions at the UE, and dynamically adapting the size of downlink RLC PDUs in dependence on those one or more indirect indicators.