Telecommunications equipment may require network connectivity. On newer systems, an additional local management interface is provided for proprietary maintenance functions, typically via a shell-based Command Line Interface. This is not available on remote sites with only TDM connections. The invention provides a method of communicating between a management console and remote access equipment via a class 4 telecommunications switch, which comprises establishing an IP connection, establishing a synchronous telecommunications transport connection between the class 5 switch and the remote access equipment, setting up a voice call between the management console and the remote access equipment, passing the voice call over the IP connection as a VOIP call, passing the voice call over the synchronous telecommunications transport connection as a PCM encoded call, and encapsulating an IP data stream in the VOIP and PCM encoded call to establish an end-to-end IP.