Abstract: The invention relates to method of interconnecting terminal devices in a digital telephone network wherein either the terminal devices in question normally operate at different data rates or they are to be interconnected over data links in the network which normally operate at different data rates. The method involves firstly determining, by processor means at a switching point in the network, the normal data bit rate of two terminals to be interconnected as well as the normal data bit rate of the or each data link over which the connection is to be made. In the case where there is a difference in the normal data bit rates the processor initiates a procedure to send a digital bit stream to one or both of the terminals to cause the terminals to operate, in the course of the connection, at a common data rate equal to the lowest of the normal data bit rates of said terminals and said data link.