Abstract: In a communications transport network (ITN) of the type comprising a plurality of network elements (NE), at least one service agreements management centre (PS) and a plurality of service agreements enforcement points (PC) associated to network elements (NE) of the network (ITN) are provided; the points (PC) are in communication with the centre (PS) according to a certain protocol, and this protocol provides for messages for sending a service start request from a point to a centre, messages for sending a service stop request from a point to a centre, messages for sending a service start decision from a centre to a point, and messages for sending a service stop decision from a centre to a point; when a time constrained service start is requested by a point (PC) to the centre (PS), the centre (PS) arranges means for monitoring the time constraint and when the time constraint is no longer complied with the centre (PS) decides a time constrained service stop and instructs the point (PC) accordingly.

Abstract: In a communications transport network (ITN) of the type comprising a plurality of network elements (NE), a policy network is provided comprising a policy server (PS) and a plurality of policy clients (PC) associated to network elements (NE) of the transport network (ITN); users of the transport network (ITN) are able to directly provision communications transport services. When a connection within the transport network (ITN) is removed, the or each policy client (PC) associated to this connection causes the deletion of the or each state associated to this connection within the policy server (PS) and thereafter the policy server (PS) considers this connection as removed.