1. A method for scaling Traffic Engineering, TE, routing in a network, comprising a plurality of network elements (nodes) connected in a given layer to each other via links, wherein contiguous TE domain segments, TE-SEGs, of a TE domain of said network are collapsed into virtual TE nodes, VN, each having an allocated TE domain unique identifier, VNID, and a detailed connectivity matrix, DCM, to provide a hierarchically virtualized network topology of said network, wherein a TE domain segment, TE-SEG, is selected by a network operator as an arbitrary contiguous part of the TE domain, and is collapsed into at least one virtual TE node, VN, representing the selected TE domain segment, TE-SEG, wherein the virtual TE node, VN, collapsing is achieved by reconfiguring the TE links, connecting the selected TE domain segment, TE SEG, with the rest of the TE domain, thus forming VN access links, ALs, as well as all of the TE domain segment TE links, thus forming VN internal TE links, ILs, in such a way, that the AL advertisements flooded across the TE domain represent said TE domain segment, TE-SEG, to the remaining part of the TE domain as at least one virtual TE node, while the IL advertisements are contained within the respective VN(s) and are not leaked into said TE domain.