A method of identifying and of controlling communications on interfering links in a local area network , the local area network having at least one user-device located therein operable to communicate via a local area network gateway device with one or more remote devices in a communications network outside the local area network , communications being carried via one or more local area network links for at least a portion of a path between the at least one user-device and the local area network gateway device , and being carried via a digital subscriber line for at least a portion of a path between the local area network gateway device and the one or more remote devices, the method comprising: triggering performance of a signal transmission action on at least one of said local area network links during a predetermined period, the signal transmission action comprising transmission of a signal at a known data flow rate on said at least one local area network link; and monitoring one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics in respect of data communications on the digital subscriber line during said predetermined period whereby to identify changes in said one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics; characterised in that the method further comprises: classifying said at least one local area network link as an interfering link in the event that an identified change in said one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics coincides with the predetermined period during which said signal transmission action has been performed; the method further comprising adjusting the data flow rate in respect of data flow on a local area network link in the event that said local area network link is classified as an interfering link; wherein the data flow rate is adjusted at the transport layer. triggering performance of a signal transmission action on at least one of said local area network links during a predetermined period, the signal transmission action comprising transmission of a signal at a known data flow rate on said at least one local area network link; and monitoring one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics in respect of data communications on the digital subscriber line during said predetermined period whereby to identify changes in said one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics; characterised in that the method further comprises: classifying said at least one local area network link as an interfering link in the event that an identified change in said one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics coincides with the predetermined period during which said signal transmission action has been performed; the method further comprising adjusting the data flow rate in respect of data flow on a local area network link in the event that said local area network link is classified as an interfering link; wherein the data flow rate is adjusted at the transport layer. classifying said at least one local area network link as an interfering link in the event that an identified change in said one or more digital subscriber line performance characteristics coincides with the predetermined period during which said signal transmission action has been performed; the method further comprising adjusting the data flow rate in respect of data flow on a local area network link in the event that said local area network link is classified as an interfering link; wherein the data flow rate is adjusted at the transport layer. <EOS>