A method, apparatus and computer program product for performing dynamic channel assignment in wireless ad hoc networks (wireless mesh and infrastructure BSSs) is presented. A fixed channel assignment order is determined for each link of the network, the fixed channel assignment order enabling simultaneous transmission without co-channel interference. A preference order is loaded for a node, the preference order derived from the fixed channel assignment order. A channel is selected in accordance with the preference order when a node is ready for transmission. A determination is made whether the selected channel is available, and when the selected channel is available then the node transmits on the channel and when the selected channel is not available then a next channel in the preference order is selected for the node and the determination regarding whether the selected channel is available is repeated.