A ring transmission system includes nodes connected in a ring shape by transmission lines to communicate with each other. Each node includes a cell extracting unit which receives a cell from the transmission lines and separates a control field from the cell in accordance with a communication control procedure, the control field including a number of bits containing management data and a destination, the management data indicating information related to maintenance and operation of the ring transmission system. A separating unit separates, from the control field, one of management data for the node and management data for another node by comparing the destination with an identification of the node. A management data processing unit generates processed management data from the management data when the destination indicates the node. An intermediate unit generates a new cell containing the management data from the separating unit when the destination indicates the another node. The management data of the new cell is distinctly different from the processed management data. The intermediate unit transmits the new cell to the transmission lines.