QAM with quantised power

In a communication system, a method and an accompanying apparatus provide for efficient modulation and demodulation processes. In a transmitter (100), a ratio of power level of a communication channel over power level of a pilot channel is determined to produce a power level ratio. The power level ratio is quantized within a finite digital word. A quantized quadrature amplitude modulation distance, in a quadrature amplitude modulation constellation, is determined based on the quantized power level ratio. A signal, in accordance with a quadrature amplitude modulation technique, is modulated using the quantized distance, and transmitted to a receiver (160).