A method for controlling the transmission power on a radio channel arranged for transmitting signals carrying elements of information arranged in successive timeslots from a first station to a second station, the radio channel including a data channel and a substantially permanent control channel, the transmission power in a timeslot depending on a reception level, at the second station, of the signal transmitted in a preceding timeslot and on a target level, said target level being set in accordance with an error rate calculated from the elements of information received from the first station. The error rate further takes account of a quality estimate on said control channel when at least one element of information is not transmitted.