Partitioned interface architecture for transmission of broadband network traffic to and from an access network

There is a disclosed communications network for the transmission of network traffic from a distribution network to an access network having at least two end user terminals. The distribution network and the access network each having a respective traffic transmission capacity with the traffic transmission capacity of the distribution network being greater than the traffic transmission capacity of the access network. The communications network has a first network device operatively connected to the distribution network. The first network apparatus is capable of receiving network traffic from the distribution network which is destined for said end user terminals. The communications network also has a second network device operatively connected to the access network. The second network device is capable of transmitting network traffic to the access network. The communications network also has a transmission link operatively connected between the first network device and the second network device. The first network device is capable of transmitting network traffic to the second network device over the transmission link. The transmission link has a traffic transmission capacity greater than the traffic transmission capacity of the access network.