METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING AN ACCESS NETWORK

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for operating an access network including data connections (19) between end-user devices (12, 14, 16, 18) and an aggregation transceiver (20) at which connections (19) are aggregated for onward connection through the network. The method comprises, for each connection, obtaining connection data for each of a plurality of monitoring periods, each comprising shorter periods, the connection data comprising performance and user activity indications for each shorter period; monitoring the performance of the connection in order to estimate a measure of its performance during a particular monitoring period that discounts performance indications obtained in respect of shorter periods within that monitoring period when the user was inactive unless activity indications in respect of corresponding shorter periods within other monitoring periods indicate that such user inactivity is anomalous; and applying a profile to the connection that is dependent on the measure of performance of the data connection.