A network includes an advanced bandwidth manager (ABM) to manage loading when a network nears or exceeds its capacity due to changes in the network, e.g., component failures or incremental growth. The ABM gathers strategic information from remote listeners about how traffic is being routed over the whole network, and is abstracted into point-to-point tables. The information gathered also helps to provide long term service planning. Autonomous policy enforcement points (PEP's) provide short term controls on their own. Intelligent action can be taken by the ABM through the PEP's by downloading admission tables based in the point-to-point abstractions. The goal is to keep the highest level of service up for the most users and prevent total failures. Requested network connections are either admitted or denied to these ends.