A method and apparatus dynamically change a connection service category for an exiting soft permanent virtual circuit (SPVC) which includes a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) connection leg set up from a source end to a network device, and a switched virtual circuit (SVC) connection leg set up from the network device to a destination end via a communications network. In one embodiment, the method includes (a) receiving a new connection service category for the existing SPVC, (b) releasing the SVC connection leg in response to the receiving the new service category, while maintaining the PVC connection leg, (c) de-allocating resources from the PVC connection leg, (d) allocating new resources on the PVC connection leg, the new resources corresponding to the new connection service category and traffic parameters, and (e) creating a new SVC connection leg in accordance with the new connection service category and the traffic parameters.