Abstract: An interconnect arrangement includes a plurality of tag allocators. Each tag allocator is configured to receive at least one stream of a plurality of packet units and further configured to tag each packet unit. Each packet unit is tagged with one of a set of n tags where n is greater than two. At least one stream is tagged with a sequence of tags that is different from a sequence of tags used for at least one other of said streams. The interconnect arrangement also includes a router configured to receive a plurality of streams of tagged packet units and to arbitrate between the streams such that packet units having a same tag are output in a group.