apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprise a physical layer controller adapted to start a first timer for a physical link comprising a receive physical link ; and a physical link monitor comprising a monitor module adapted to determine a local receiver status for the receive physical link , and a controller adapted to indicate a link status is ok for the physical link when the local receiver status is ok , wherein the controller comprises a speed up mode circuit to indicate the link status is fail for the physical link when the local receiver status is not ok and a speed up mode is enabled , regardless of the status of the first timer .