A method and an apparatus for providing a flexible secondary data path control, said method comprising the steps of: detecting (S1) a primary data path failure of a primary data path between a customer premise site (3) and a central office site (4); initiating (S2) a corresponding secondary data path if a primary data path failure of said primary data path has been detected; initiating (S3) a measurement of data path characteristics of said initiated secondary path or utilizing constantly monitored data path characteristics of paths for an available secondary data path; and determining (S4) services to be provided via said secondary data path depending on the measured data path characteristics of said secondary data path.