Abstract: In order to enable utilisation of half-bridges in networks in which a spanning tree algorithm is implemented, the priorities of the half-bridges are set such that generally the half-bridges select which of their ports should be blocked to break any communication loops which arise in preference to full bridges making the selection which may result in communication links via the backbone ports of the half-bridges being disabled. Further, a half-bridge is proposed in which more than one of its ports are available for configuring as the backbone port.