using a wireless connection operating in a first operation mode (OM) associated with a first physical layer supporting a first data transmission rate;

determining one or more parameters of an OM utility function;

obtaining a first plurality of metrics characterizing quality of the wireless connection operating in the first OM and a second plurality of metrics predicting quality of the wireless connection operating in a second OM associated with a second physical layer supporting a second data transmission rate;

identifying a difference between a second utility value and a first utility value, wherein the first utility value is obtained by applying the OM utility function to the first plurality of metrics and the second utility value is obtained by applying the OM utility function to the second plurality of metrics; and

initiating a change of the wireless connection from operating in the first OM to operating in the second OM based on the identified difference.