a telecommunications network comprising first and second access equipment on one side of the network and third and fourth access equipment on another side of the network , a respective communication link is provided between the first and the third access equipment and between the second and fourth access equipment , and further , a communication link is provided between the first and the second access equipment , and between the third and fourth access equipment , each access equipment providing an interface for communication with the network , and each access equipment is configured to be capable of causing a change in the path followed by at least some of the traffic conveyed over the communication links .