In a method of merging and disbanding multicast groups in a packet switch network multicast groups may be merged at edge routers. Merging and disbanding of multicast groups may be controlled by a designated computing device (referred to as connection managers) on each sub-network. Connection managers across sub-networks may communicate with each other to ensure merge and disband messages are properly distributed. Connection managers may optionally be interconnected hierarchically. Connection managers or other computing devices may optionally act as proxies for merged groups to ensure traffic for merged groups is directed to a sub-network.