A 
noise suppression circuit for a communications channel (10) comprises a 
hybrid device (11) coupled to the channel for providing a differential output 
signal corresponding to a received 
signal. A 
delay unit (12) delays the differential 
signal by a suitable amount to allow for the generation and subtraction of a 
noise estimate. A summing device (13) extracts a digital 
common mode signal from the channel, and a 
noise estimation unit (16) provides a 
common mode noise estimate signal in dependence upon a history of the 
common mode signal over a predetermined period of time and over a plurality of frequency bands. The 
common mode noise estimate signal is combined subtractively (19) with the delayed differential signal to cancel 
common mode noise elements of the delayed differential signal. The 
noise estimation unit may comprise an analysis 
filter bank (20) for producing a plurality of subband signals (S1-SM), each at a different one of a plurality of different frequencies, a plurality of 
noise detection circuits (231-23M), each for 
processing a respective one of the plurality of subband signals to provide a component of the common mode noise estimate signal, and a synthesis 
filter bank (24) for 
processing the common mode noise signal components to provide the noise estimate signal.