A method of encoding at least two sets of data bits into a single encoded block is provided, wherein each set of data bits includes a primary set of bits to be encoded and a secondary set of bits to remain unencoded, wherein the encoding technique requires a set of code terminating bits to be added to the primary set of bits; the method comprising: combining the two sets of primary bits, whereby one set of code terminating bits is added to the combined two sets of primary bits. The two sets of data bits may each include a header portion and a payload portion, the payload portion comprising encoded speech. The encoding step may be a channel encoding step for encoding the at least two sets of data bits for transmission on a packet switched network. The data bits may be for transmission on an EDGE packet switched network, wherein the at least two sets of data bits are encoded into a single RLC/MAC block.