Abstract: A method of routing backhaul link communications in a wireless communication network including communicatively coupling an apparatus to each of a plurality of peers in the wireless communication network with each of a respective backhaul link of a plurality of backhaul links. The method includes collecting metrics associated with each backhaul link of the plurality of backhaul links and calculating backhaul link parameters based upon the collected metrics. The method includes determining a link quality for each of the plurality of backhaul links based upon the calculated backhaul link parameters, and determining a best backhaul link available based on the determined link qualities, and routing communications between the apparatus and one of the peers of the wireless communication system via the determined best backhaul link available. The collected metrics include metrics besides a transmission success rate of Hello packets.