Abstract: A method for handling congestion in a communication network, known as a focussed mass calling event (MCE), occurring when the rate of calls to any given terminating number increases dramatically resulting in a large number of incomplete calls directed towards that number, known as ineffective attempts. Switches in the network operate under control of a network processor and ineffective attempts are logged and monitored by the switches. If the number of ineffective attempts on a switch for a particular terminating number exceeds a threshold in a given sampling interval, an MCE is detected on the switch and reported to the network processor along with the terminating number. The network processor responds by periodically broadcasting a gap control message to all the switches of the network identifying the congested terminating number and a gap time. The switches respond to the gap control message by placing a guard-time between calls to the particular terminating number based on the gap time.