A network element comprises a radio frequency (RF) transceiver module and a signal processing module operably coupled to the RF transceiver module and arranged to enable at least one telephony connection to be established over a first communication network between the network element and a plurality of local wireless communication units. The signal processing module is further arranged to enable a piconet to be established where the piconet comprises the network element and the plurality of wireless communication units. The signal processing module is further arranged to establish a common telephony connection between the piconet and at least one remote device over a second communication network.