Service concept of the switched multi-megabit data service

The author describe the service concept, the objectives, and the functionality and features of the switched multimegabit data service (SMDS). SMDS is a high-performance, public, packet-switched data service that is targeted at the emerging high-speed, wide-area data communications market. The service provides multimegabit throughput and low delay characteristics. Access to the service is based on a DS3 link into the network with a streamlined interface protocol for high performance and easy integration with customer premises equipment. Applications that currently use local area networks can be easily extended to utilize SMDS. Being defined in a technology-independent manner, SMDS can be provided using current technology in the early stage and be part of the multiservices broadband network package as the access to a broadband network becomes available