A method comprising: receiving data packets at a packet processing node of a network, the packet processing node being in communication with a first access node (4, 5, 6) communicating with user devices in a first group using a first transport technology and a first media access control protocol, the packet processing node also being in communication with a second access node (4, 5, 6) communicating with a second group of user devices using a second transport technology and a second MAC protocol, the first and second transport technologies being different and the first and second MAC protocols being different; determining at the packet processing node that first and second portions of the data packets are to be respectively transmitted to the first and second access nodes; from the packet processing node, respectively transmitting the first and second portions of data packets to the first and second access nodes; encapsulating the first portion of data packets in first MAC frames according to the first MAC protocol used at the first access node and transmitting the first MAC frames to the first access node in communication with the user devices in the first group, wherein the first portion of the data packets are further encapsulated with channel information corresponding to a first channel on which the first portion of the data packets are to be transmitted downstream from the first access node to an intended user device; and encapsulating the second portion of the data packets in second MAC frames according to the second MAC protocol used at the second access node and transmitting the second MAC frames to the second access node in communication with user devices of the second group, wherein the second portion of the data packets are further encapsulated with channel information corresponding to a second channel on which the second portion of the data packets are to be transmitted downstream from the second access node to the intended user device or another intended user device. receiving data packets at a packet processing node of a network, the packet processing node being in communication with a first access node (4, 5, 6) communicating with user devices in a first group using a first transport technology and a first media access control protocol, the packet processing node also being in communication with a second access node (4, 5, 6) communicating with a second group of user devices using a second transport technology and a second MAC protocol, the first and second transport technologies being different and the first and second MAC protocols being different; determining at the packet processing node that first and second portions of the data packets are to be respectively transmitted to the first and second access nodes; from the packet processing node, respectively transmitting the first and second portions of data packets to the first and second access nodes; encapsulating the first portion of data packets in first MAC frames according to the first MAC protocol used at the first access node and transmitting the first MAC frames to the first access node in communication with the user devices in the first group, wherein the first portion of the data packets are further encapsulated with channel information corresponding to a first channel on which the first portion of the data packets are to be transmitted downstream from the first access node to an intended user device; and encapsulating the second portion of the data packets in second MAC frames according to the second MAC protocol used at the second access node and transmitting the second MAC frames to the second access node in communication with user devices of the second group, wherein the second portion of the data packets are further encapsulated with channel information corresponding to a second channel on which the second portion of the data packets are to be transmitted downstream from the second access node to the intended user device or another intended user device.