A multi-carrier transmission system, particularly a discrete multi-tone (DMT) system. Data is transmitted between two transceivers using a plurality of carriers. The frequency bandwidth of the system is divided between the plurality of carriers. The transmission system is adapted for operation in a heterogeneous network including a number of subscriber equipments having different channel characteristics and coexisting on the same cable. The length of cable for each subscriber terminal varies in relation to its respective location. The transmission system includes an allocation device for allocating the traffic of subscriber equipments having a shorter length of cable to tones starting from a higher frequency band of the system bandwidth.