End-to-end communication in a communications network is controlled by determining, based on monitoring of traffic in the communications network, the number of paths, or links, needed between the first and the at least second network element. If it is determined, based on the traffic load, that not all available paths are needed:—Selecting at least one path that should not be used to carry traffic,—Rerouting any traffic using the selected at least one path to at least one alternative path, and—Placing any network elements or links not carrying traffic after the rerouting in standby mode in which the power consumption of the elements is reduced, to reduce the power consumption in the network.