A method of operating a base station node (21) comprises obtaining an indication of degradation of a radio link connection between the base station node and the user equipment unit (UE) which is carried by the a high speed packet channel (HSDPA). In accordance with the distance indication, the transmission priority for the radio link connection is modified. Preferably the indication of degradation is a distance indication of distance of a user equipment unit (23) involved in the radio link connection from the base station node (21). The transmission priority can be modified for one or both of downlink and uplink transmissions for the user equipment unit (UE). Preferably the transmission priority is modified for the radio link connection, e.g., for the user equipment unit (UE), as a function of the indication.