A method for optimizing throughput of a network with stations adapted to transmit data to an access point includes the step of determining a respective required throughput for each station based on: respective time periods required for decreasing a count of a respective back-off counter associated with each of the stations, a transmission packet length of the respective station, and a probability of successful transmission for of the respective station. The respective required throughput so determined is a function of a respective transmission attempt rate for the station. The method further includes the step of determining the respective transmission attempt rate for each station for maximizing a sum of the respective required throughput such that a respective fixed throughput is provided for inelastic data flow in the network, a respective proportional throughput ratio is provided for elastic data flow in the network, and the throughput of the network is maximized.