A subscriber line is analyzed to estimate the average near-end crosstalk (NEXT) coupling in a twisted pair when all NEXT signals with NEXT couplings greater than a given threshold have been cancelled. The analysis is then used to estimate the expected number of twisted pairs that would require NEXT cancellation in order to reduce the NEXT magnitude on a particular twisted pair to a certain level. The results of the analysis are useful in estimating the feasibility and computational complexity of systems using adaptive filters for NEXT cancellation