A communication system includes an I2C bus interconnecting at least one first device and one second device. At least one direct data link, other than the I2C bus, interconnects the first and second devices. The system is configurable to operate in: a first operating mode providing for data only transmission between the first and second devices over the I2C bus; and a second operating mode providing for simultaneous data transmission between the first and second devices over both the I2C bus and said data link.