A method of minimizing jitter in a system for rate adapting a data signal for transport through a synchronous network. A phase difference is measured between a data clock synchronous with the data signal and a local clock of the synchronous network. A timing reference (F) indicative of a frequency difference between the asynchronous data signal and the local clock is measured using the measured phase difference. Calculation of the timing reference includes compensating ambiguity in the measured phase difference.