A two-dimensional optimization between adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) and multi-code transmission targets the best bit rate at which a highest useable modulation and coding scheme (MCS) achieves a maximum allowed number of channelization codes or less. The optimized MCS and number of channelization codes at a best bit rate is communicated from a transmitter to a receiver, possibly also with power information for instance using a transport format combination indicator (TFCI). A user equipment may play the role of carrying out the optimization and signaling the result to the Node B or may instead receive the result as carried out by the Node B or RNC in response to a radio link quality measurement sent from the UE to the Node B.