A communication node (162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 180) comprising: at least one interface (182, 184) that enables the communication node to communicate with other communication nodes via communication links established over underlying_DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) links in a ring or linear topology, the other communication nodes comprising at least one adjacent communication node with which the communication node communicates directly and non-adjacent communication nodes with which the communication node communicates through intermediate communication nodes; and a communication control module, operatively coupled to the at least one interface, that determines whether respective communication rates on the communication links should be adjusted based on information associated with the adjacent communication nodes and the non-adjacent communication nodes, and requests adjustment of one or more of the underlying DSL links to adjust any of the respective communication rates that should be adjusted, characterised in that each of the respective communication rates comprises first and second portions of total bandwidth available for bidirectional communication traffic transfer via a communication link over an underlying DSL link, the first portion comprising bandwidth allocated to communication traffic transfer in a first direction and the second portion comprising bandwidth allocated to communication traffic transfer in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the communication control module requests adjustment by requesting adjustment of one or more of the first portion and the second portion of total bandwidth, the total bandwidth comprises a plurality of frequency bands respectively allocated for communication traffic transfer in the first and second directions, and the communication control module requests adjustment by requesting re-allocation of one or more of the plurality of frequency bands from one of the first and second portions to the other of the first and second portions. at least one interface (182, 184) that enables the communication node to communicate with other communication nodes via communication links established over underlying_DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) links in a ring or linear topology, the other communication nodes comprising at least one adjacent communication node with which the communication node communicates directly and non-adjacent communication nodes with which the communication node communicates through intermediate communication nodes; and a communication control module, operatively coupled to the at least one interface, that determines whether respective communication rates on the communication links should be adjusted based on information associated with the adjacent communication nodes and the non-adjacent communication nodes, and requests adjustment of one or more of the underlying DSL links to adjust any of the respective communication rates that should be adjusted, each of the respective communication rates comprises first and second portions of total bandwidth available for bidirectional communication traffic transfer via a communication link over an underlying DSL link, the first portion comprising bandwidth allocated to communication traffic transfer in a first direction and the second portion comprising bandwidth allocated to communication traffic transfer in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the communication control module requests adjustment by requesting adjustment of one or more of the first portion and the second portion of total bandwidth, the total bandwidth comprises a plurality of frequency bands respectively allocated for communication traffic transfer in the first and second directions, and the communication control module requests adjustment by requesting re-allocation of one or more of the plurality of frequency bands from one of the first and second portions to the other of the first and second portions.