A method of transmitting data from a first node to a second node via a channel of a communication network, said method comprising: receiving data at said first node; encoding a first portion of said data at a first bit rate to generate a first encoded data stream; monitoring an indication of the capacity of the channel; transmitting to the second node a padded data stream via said channel, wherein padding bits are added to the first encoded data stream, in dependence on the indication of the capacity of the channel, to generate the padded data stream; determining whether transmitting said padded data stream exceeds the capacity of the channel; if it is determined that transmitting the padded data stream does not exceed the capacity of the channel, determining if the bit rate of the padded data stream is substantially equivalent to a higher bit rate than the first bit rate, wherein the padding bits are added to the first encoded data stream by incrementally increasing the number of padding bits added to the first encoded data stream, thereby incrementally increasing the transmitted bit rate of the transmitted padded data stream, in response to determining that the capacity of the channel is not exceeded until the bit rate of the padded data stream is substantially equivalent to the higher bit rate such that the bit rate of the transmitted padded data stream gradually approaches the higher bit rate; if it is determined that the bit rate of the padded data stream is substantially equivalent to the higher bit rate, encoding a second portion of said data at the higher bit rate to generate a second encoded data stream; and transmitting the second encoded data stream to the second node via said channel. receiving data at said first node; encoding a first portion of said data at a first bit rate to generate a first encoded data stream; monitoring an indication of the capacity of the channel; transmitting to the second node a padded data stream via said channel, wherein padding bits are added to the first encoded data stream, in dependence on the indication of the capacity of the channel, to generate the padded data stream; determining whether transmitting said padded data stream exceeds the capacity of the channel; if it is determined that transmitting the padded data stream does not exceed the capacity of the channel, determining if the bit rate of the padded data stream is substantially equivalent to a higher bit rate than the first bit rate, wherein the padding bits are added to the first encoded data stream by incrementally increasing the number of padding bits added to the first encoded data stream, thereby incrementally increasing the transmitted bit rate of the transmitted padded data stream, in response to determining that the capacity of the channel is not exceeded until the bit rate of the padded data stream is substantially equivalent to the higher bit rate such that the bit rate of the transmitted padded data stream gradually approaches the higher bit rate; if it is determined that the bit rate of the padded data stream is substantially equivalent to the higher bit rate, encoding a second portion of said data at the higher bit rate to generate a second encoded data stream; and transmitting the second encoded data stream to the second node via said channel.