A controller is configured to control a first of plural relay nodes to transmit signals representing data to one of communications terminals received from a base station or to receive signals representing data from a communications terminal for transmission to the base station, wherein, upon first predetermined conditions being met, to control a second of the plurality of relay nodes to transmit signals representing the data to the communications terminal received from the base station or to receive signals representing the data from the communications terminal for transmission to the base station, and to control the communications terminal to transmit a first signal representing at least a first part of the data to the first relay node for transmission to the base station, and to transmit a second signal representing at least a second part of the data to the second relay node for transmission to the base station.