Technique for improved subjective perfomance in a communication system using attenuated noise-fill

The method comprises the detecting (16) of active and inactive information signal transmission periods to a destined end user, and the measuring (17) of background noise normally found in the transmission of the information signals to the destined end user. A noise fill signal is generated (21,22) and transmitted to the destined end user during information signal transmission gaps to that end user, which noise fill signal is at level below that of the measured background noise. Such attenuated noise fill level was found to provide improved subjective performance in, for example, speech transmissions when the noise fill is between -1 dB and -6 dB of the measured background noise level, with best subjective performance noted between the -3 and -6 dB noise match levels. During inactive information signal transmission periods to the end user, the transmission channel can be used to transmit second signal transmissions to a second end user using a speech interpolation technique.