A method for allocating control channels for multi-carrier high speed downlink packet access, HSDPA, comprising: step A, when a user equipment, UE, accesses a network, a radio network controller allocating to the UE with a number K of pairs of uplink and downlink control channels to be monitored by the UE, wherein K≥1; step B, during a HSDPA service transmission process, the radio network controller selecting a number N of pairs from the number K of pairs of uplink and downlink control channels to transmit control messages, wherein the selected downlink control channels and the corresponding uplink control channels are on a same carrier; and step C, the radio network controller allocating a pair of uplink and downlink dedicated physical channels to each carrier on which the number N of pairs of uplink and downlink control channels are transmitted, wherein M≥N, N≥1 and M is a maximum number of carriers allocated to the UE used by the network to transmit packet data; wherein each pair of uplink and downlink control channels is used for transmitting control messages of the associated dedicated physical channels; either one pair of uplink and downlink control channels is used for the transmission of control messages regarding all the carriers, or each pair of control channels contains information pertaining to the specific carrier; characterized in that the uplink and downlink control channels are common channels; the uplink and downlink dedicated physical channels are for transmitting high layer control signaling, high layer response messages of the UE and power control and synchronous control messages initiating the uplink and downlink control channels. step A, when a user equipment, UE, accesses a network, a radio network controller allocating to the UE with a number K of pairs of uplink and downlink control channels to be monitored by the UE, wherein K≥1; step B, during a HSDPA service transmission process, the radio network controller selecting a number N of pairs from the number K of pairs of uplink and downlink control channels to transmit control messages, wherein the selected downlink control channels and the corresponding uplink control channels are on a same carrier; and step C, the radio network controller allocating a pair of uplink and downlink dedicated physical channels to each carrier on which the number N of pairs of uplink and downlink control channels are transmitted, wherein M≥N, N≥1 and M is a maximum number of carriers allocated to the UE used by the network to transmit packet data; wherein each pair of uplink and downlink control channels is used for transmitting control messages of the associated dedicated physical channels; either one pair of uplink and downlink control channels is used for the transmission of control messages regarding all the carriers, or each pair of control channels contains information pertaining to the specific carrier; characterized in that the uplink and downlink control channels are common channels; the uplink and downlink dedicated physical channels are for transmitting high layer control signaling, high layer response messages of the UE and power control and synchronous control messages initiating the uplink and downlink control channels.