A traffic control method and system are disclosed for scheduling fixed size traffic elements from a number of queues for transmission on a link. Each queue has associated traffic parameters. The system comprises a scheduler and a calendar in a memory for storing a transmission schedule of the queues. The scheduler shapes the transmission schedule by updating the schedule in the calendar in dependence on inputted traffic parameters of each queue. The system also includes an amplifier to amplify the traffic parameters by a factor K prior to input to the scheduler, the scheduler and calendar being adapted to operate using the amplified parameters.