ATM customer access [Asynchronous Transfer Mode]

Recognising that the future network will need to provide customers with a very broad and flexible range of services, the CCITT SG XVIII have recommended that ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) should be the basis of its implementation. ATM is an affordable way while opening up the possibilities for new, but as yet ill defined, broadband services. To take advantage of these new services requires the provision of broadband customer access. Thus the introduction of ATM is critically dependant on the introduction of optical fibre access systems. Some of the options for supporting broadband ATM connections and meeting the requirements of different services and customers are explored