System-level communication link bonding apparatus and methods

Apparatus for managing transfer of communication traffic over communication links, for use in communication equipment comprising communication link termination modules adapted to process communication traffic for transfer between respective sets of at least one communication link transceiver and a further communication link on internal communication means, the apparatus comprising:

• a communication link bonding manager adapted to configure a plurality of communication links, on which communication link transceivers of the communication link termination modules are adapted to transfer communication traffic, as a group for providing an aggregate group communication traffic rate on the further communication link;
• and
• a bonding module for connection to the internal communication means to distribute on the internal communication means communication traffic received on the further communication link among, and to receive on the internal communication means communication traffic to be sent on the further communication link from, communication link termination modules comprising the communication link transceivers which are adapted to transfer communication traffic on the plurality of communication links.