A radio communication system has improved power control of transmissions between a first station and a second station. The second station adjusts the power of its transmissions to the first station in response to power control commands received from the first station. The first station determines when it has synchronised to transmissions from the second station and informs the second station of synchronisation. After synchronisation has been signalled, the rate of adjustment of transmission power by the second station is increased (508). The changed rate of power control can be achieved by adjustments to the power control step size, or by other modifications to the response of the second station to received power control commands or to its rate of reception of power control commands.These techniques overcome the problem that, because synchronisation can take a significant time to be established, there is a danger that transmission power may be increased too much and cause unacceptable interference.