A method and apparatus are described for reducing link interference by a link between a user equipment component and an access network component. The user equipment component and access network component are connected by links over dedicated channels in respective directions, the link channel power in the first direction being controlled by the link channel in the second direction. A component sends in a second direction a link connection release message for a link connection in the first direction, identifies when the link connection in the first direction is released and, when the release is identified, releases the link connection in the second direction.