A network node , comprising: a processor ; a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising programming instructions that are configured to cause the processor to implement a method for operating the network node, wherein the programming instructions comprise instructions to: determine a capacity of each communications link of a plurality of communications links on which the network node is configured to receive data from other network nodes; for each communications link of the plurality of communications links determine a total number of network nodes that use the respective communications link, wherein the determined total number of network nodes share the capacity of the respective communications link for broadcast data transmissions to the network node; compute a first data transmission rate for each communications link of the plurality of communications links based on the determined capacities of the communications links and the determined total numbers of network nodes; compare the first data transmission rates to each other to determine which data transmission rate has a lowest value; and cause communication operations to be performed in accordance with the data transmission rate determined to have the lowest value of the first data transmission rates. a processor ; a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising programming instructions that are configured to cause the processor to implement a method for operating the network node, wherein the programming instructions comprise instructions to: determine a capacity of each communications link of a plurality of communications links on which the network node is configured to receive data from other network nodes; for each communications link of the plurality of communications links determine a total number of network nodes that use the respective communications link, wherein the determined total number of network nodes share the capacity of the respective communications link for broadcast data transmissions to the network node; compute a first data transmission rate for each communications link of the plurality of communications links based on the determined capacities of the communications links and the determined total numbers of network nodes; compare the first data transmission rates to each other to determine which data transmission rate has a lowest value; and cause communication operations to be performed in accordance with the data transmission rate determined to have the lowest value of the first data transmission rates. determine a capacity of each communications link of a plurality of communications links on which the network node is configured to receive data from other network nodes; for each communications link of the plurality of communications links determine a total number of network nodes that use the respective communications link, wherein the determined total number of network nodes share the capacity of the respective communications link for broadcast data transmissions to the network node; compute a first data transmission rate for each communications link of the plurality of communications links based on the determined capacities of the communications links and the determined total numbers of network nodes; compare the first data transmission rates to each other to determine which data transmission rate has a lowest value; and cause communication operations to be performed in accordance with the data transmission rate determined to have the lowest value of the first data transmission rates. <EOS>