Apparatus is provided that includes at least one entity for transmitting speech signals in a discontinuous transmission mode including transmitting speech frames interspersed with frames including comfort noise parameters during periods of speech pauses. The entit(ies) include a first entity for estimating a current noise value. In addition, the apparatus includes a second entity for selectively controlling a rate at which the frames including comfort noise parameters are transmitted during the periods of speech pauses based upon the estimated current noise value.