A network gateway for determining a designated data transmission rate for a wireless link between a wireless modem means and a base station, the network gateway comprising; at least one means for communicating with the wireless modem means; a means for controlling configured for: obtaining an instantaneous data transmission capacity of the wireless link from the wireless modem means, determining an average data transmission capacity of the wireless link using the instantaneous data transmission capacity of the wireless link, determining an expected attenuation on the wireless link based on environmental factors related to the wireless link and a learning function, wherein the attenuation includes a degradation of a signal on the wireless link, determining the designated data transmission rate based on the instantaneous data transmission capacity of the wireless link and the expected attenuation on the wireless link, wherein the designated data transmission rate is lower than a data transmission rate corresponding to the average data transmission capacity of the wireless link, and wherein an availability of the designated data transmission rate over the wireless link is higher than an availability of the average data transmission capacity over the wireless link, and transmitting a control signal to the wireless modem means based on the designated data transmission rate to affect a wireless resource usage of the wireless modem means. at least one means for communicating with the wireless modem means; a means for controlling configured for: obtaining an instantaneous data transmission capacity of the wireless link from the wireless modem means, determining an average data transmission capacity of the wireless link using the instantaneous data transmission capacity of the wireless link, determining an expected attenuation on the wireless link based on environmental factors related to the wireless link and a learning function, wherein the attenuation includes a degradation of a signal on the wireless link, determining the designated data transmission rate based on the instantaneous data transmission capacity of the wireless link and the expected attenuation on the wireless link, wherein the designated data transmission rate is lower than a data transmission rate corresponding to the average data transmission capacity of the wireless link, and wherein an availability of the designated data transmission rate over the wireless link is higher than an availability of the average data transmission capacity over the wireless link, and transmitting a control signal to the wireless modem means based on the designated data transmission rate to affect a wireless resource usage of the wireless modem means. obtaining an instantaneous data transmission capacity of the wireless link from the wireless modem means, determining an average data transmission capacity of the wireless link using the instantaneous data transmission capacity of the wireless link, determining an expected attenuation on the wireless link based on environmental factors related to the wireless link and a learning function, wherein the attenuation includes a degradation of a signal on the wireless link, determining the designated data transmission rate based on the instantaneous data transmission capacity of the wireless link and the expected attenuation on the wireless link, wherein the designated data transmission rate is lower than a data transmission rate corresponding to the average data transmission capacity of the wireless link, and wherein an availability of the designated data transmission rate over the wireless link is higher than an availability of the average data transmission capacity over the wireless link, and transmitting a control signal to the wireless modem means based on the designated data transmission rate to affect a wireless resource usage of the wireless modem means.