The invention relates to a method for load control and a radio system. In the invention a load result describing the load is cell-specifically formed. The load result is formed either by comparing a signal strength of desired signals and a combined total strength of interferences and the desired signals or by weighting a signal-to-interference ratio with a bandwidth or a data transmission rate. The load result is compared with a threshold value of the highest load level allowed of a cell. The data transmission rate in the cell is increased if the load result is smaller than the threshold value. The data transmission rate in the cell is reduced and the establishment of new connections is avoided if the load result exceeds the threshold value. In heavy load situations a signal-to-interference objective is also changed in order to balance the load result.