A method of operating a first communications device comprising: establishing, during a first time interval, a communications link between said first communications device and a second communications device using a first frequency band, wherein the first frequency band is a private licensed frequency band; checking alternative frequency bands in a plurality of possible alternative frequency bands and determining a set of candidates for a second frequency band; forming, at the first communications device, a first list of acceptable candidates of the set of candidates, wherein each candidate is associated with a quality indicator information; receiving, from the second communications device, a second list of acceptable candidates of the set of candidates, wherein each candidate is associated with a quality indicator information; determining, by comparing the quality indicator information of the first and of the second list, if a second frequency band out of the plurality of possible alternative frequency bands is available and acceptable for data communication, wherein said second frequency band is an unlicensed frequency band which is publicly accessible; communicating to said second communication device, using said first frequency band, that said second band is to be used for communicating data; communicating data between said first communications device and said second communications device using said second frequency band in a second time interval following said first time interval, said first and second frequency bands being non-overlapping frequency bands; and communicating a control signal between said first communications device and said second communications device using said first frequency band during said second time interval. establishing, during a first time interval, a communications link between said first communications device and a second communications device using a first frequency band, wherein the first frequency band is a private licensed frequency band; checking alternative frequency bands in a plurality of possible alternative frequency bands and determining a set of candidates for a second frequency band; forming, at the first communications device, a first list of acceptable candidates of the set of candidates, wherein each candidate is associated with a quality indicator information; receiving, from the second communications device, a second list of acceptable candidates of the set of candidates, wherein each candidate is associated with a quality indicator information; determining, by comparing the quality indicator information of the first and of the second list, if a second frequency band out of the plurality of possible alternative frequency bands is available and acceptable for data communication, wherein said second frequency band is an unlicensed frequency band which is publicly accessible; communicating to said second communication device, using said first frequency band, that said second band is to be used for communicating data; communicating data between said first communications device and said second communications device using said second frequency band in a second time interval following said first time interval, said first and second frequency bands being non-overlapping frequency bands; and communicating a control signal between said first communications device and said second communications device using said first frequency band during said second time interval.