Abstract: A communications system includes a first network of a first type and a second network of a second type. One example of the first network is a circuit-switched network that employs a time-division multiplexing (TDM) scheme. An example of the second network is a packet-based network such as an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network or an Internet Protocol (IP) network. A call request originated in the first network is received by a gateway system coupled between the first network and the second network. A call is then established over the second network. A success indication of the call over the second network is waited for before establishing a bearer traffic connection between the first network and the second network.