Distributed redundancy capacity licensing in a telecommunication network element

A method for distributing licensed capacity between a plurality of network elements, each of the network elements having a load capacity limit less than an available capacity, the method comprising, for each network element:

• detecting a failed network element from the plurality of network elements;
• and
• assigning the load capacity limit lost by the failed network element to all remaining network elements in the plurality of network elements.

A method for managing licensed capacity between network elements, each of the network elements having a redundant resource component:

• receiving at each of the network elements a notification of the total licensed capacity;
• calculating for each of the network elements a steady state load capacity limit based on the total licensed capacity, and
• upon failure of one of the network elements, determining a transient load capacity limit, the transient load capacity limit providing licensed capacity for at least part of the redundant resource component of each remaining network element