A multi-party communication in a telecommunications network, sometimes termed a conference call, is set up between a plurality of parties in different locations using a signalling protocol which is independent of the bearer connections between those parties. The bearer connections carry various media (e.g. audio, video, data) between the parties, who individually may have access to some or all of the total set of media in use in the conference call, and each medium may utilise a different topography of bearer connections. By providing for the conference call a signalling protocol which is independent of bearer connections and of the signalling protocols used to establish those connections, the conference call can be established, controlled and finally terminated in a manner that is independent of the topology of any of the media involved.