A method of controlling the flow of data packet traffic from a first point to at least two second point in an Ethernet telecommunications network having a multiplicity of nodes interconnected by multiple network links, comprises monitoring the level of utilization of a link between the first and second points, generating flow control messages representing the level of utilization and transmitting the control messages to the first point, and using the states represented in the flow control messages as factors in controlling the rate at which the packets are transmitted from the first point to the second point. A method of controlling the flow of data packet traffic through an Ethernet telecommunications network having a multiplicity of nodes interconnected by multiple network links, comprises receiving incoming data packet traffic from multiple customer connections at a first node for entry into the network via the first node, the first node having an ingress trunk, and limiting the rate at which the incoming data packets are admitted to the network via the ingress trunk.