Doug: Part I: " The future of ATMs and NN.
Based on above article, $70 - 80 or 1 share of CSCO / 1 share of NN, seems reasonable,
:-)
Happy Thanksgiving,
TA
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ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ " The whole design of the Internet was ?IP over anything?--
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ IP over frame relay, IP over ATM, etc. Today,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ however, the reverse is not true.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ What we will see in the future is IP evolution
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ characterized by the merging of ATM with IP. This
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ new mode combines the best attributes of IP and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM. It will not look like the IP we see today; the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ packet structure will be different, as will the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ overhead structure. The merging of ATM and IP will
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ mirror what is presently happening in the transport
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ layer, where DWDM and SONET are merging. "
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Marty Kaplan, chief technology officer, Sprint
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telecoms-mag.com
ATM Systems: What?s
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Next?
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Industry Insight
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM is now a mature technology that has taken hold in service
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ provider backbones. Have we seen all its potential? Editor-in-Chief
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Sue O?Keefe asked several service providers, analysts and vendors
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ about what the future holds for ATM. Here?s what they had to say:ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Rick Malone, analyst, Vertical Systems
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ------------------------
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ With the advent of ?IP everywhere,? some in the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ industry have declared ATM technology pass?.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Despite these pronouncements, ATM continues to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ rapidly penetrate key segments of network
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ infrastructures. Since 1992, more than $9 billion has
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ been spent on ATM equipment worldwide. In 1999
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ alone, more than $4 billion will be spent on ATM
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ core switches, edge switches, campus switches and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ access devices. The technology?s enduring appeal
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ can be attributed as much to frenzied network
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ build-out momentum as to its roster of benefits,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ which include standards-based technology,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ multimedia applications support, scalability to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ multigigabit capacities, and QoS on a
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ per-application basis. In short, ATM has been
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ accepted as a proven technology for managing
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ bandwidth.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Public ATM services are just beginning to gain
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ momentum, despite generating 15 percent of the total
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM market revenue. With port growth of more than
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 80 percent this year, ATM in the United States is
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ emerging as the preferred access service at speeds
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ above T1. The hottest area this year is ATM IMA--a
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ fractional T3 service--now offered by all the leading
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM providers. The need to aggregate frame relay
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ traffic into central sites at T3 rates using frame
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ relay/ATM service interworking interfaces is also
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ driving ATM service growth. The ATM services
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ market will top $1 billion for the first time this year
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ and is projected to increase at a faster growth rate
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ than ATM equipment revenue through 2002.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ The penetration of ATM equipment in the service
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ provider environment has been primarily as a core
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ technology to support subtending frame relay and IP
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ networks. We expect further penetration in the core
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ and edge as providers adopt MPLS to unite their
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ multiservice environments and implement dedicated
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ VPNs.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ More than $300 million of ATM access devices will
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ be sold this year to enterprises and service providers
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ for connecting to ATM-based core switches. IMA,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ service interworking, transparent LAN service and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ voice/data convergence are the applications driving
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the growth of this segment. ATM has also been
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ implemented in the leading DSLAMs to manage
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ traffic from multiple subscribers. Now, some service
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ providers are planning to support ATM to the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ subscriber?s modem, making it possible for a user to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ utilize the ATM signalling stacks that are already
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ built into Windows 98 and NT. Wide deployment of
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ xDSL could help extend ATM technology to sub T1
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ speeds at the network?s edge.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 8888888888888888
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ÿÿ Joe Skorupa, director of switching and routing, RHK
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ----------------------------
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ What happened to ATM? Just a few years ago, ATM
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ was crowned the ruler of all it surveyed. Now, many
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ people seem ready to relegate ATM to the dustbin of
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ history--an interesting curiosity, but ultimately of
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ little importance. However, if you look closer, the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ corpse seems pretty lively.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM?s ability to guarantee the QoS of multiple
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ streams across a low-bandwidth link is driving
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM?s adoption for xDSL networks, particularly for
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ G.Lite. If carrier rollout plans come together,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ millions of ATM access lines will be installed in the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ United States alone.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ILECs face scarcity of metropolitan fiber, driven
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ largely by the demand for DS3 and OC-3 links for
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ISPs. Metro DWDM ring solutions are still rare,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ making ATM-based virtual path (VP) very attractive.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ These networks must carry voice, packet data and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ private line traffic efficiently across a single
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ infrastructure. ATM?s QoS and statistical
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ multiplexing are driving ILECs and CLECs to deploy
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ VP rings. RHK expects this trend to accelerate.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ While routers will anchor some large networks, such
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ as Qwest and Frontier, large ATM and hybrid
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM/MPLS switches will also be common,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ particularly among ILECs and IXCs. MCI
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ WorldCom plans to continue to offer ATM services
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ to customers that require very robust services and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Sprint?s ION is ATM-based. Even ?pure IP? carriers
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ such as Level 3 admit that they are building their
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ networks atop ATM while they wait for IP to evolve
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ into a more robust ATM-like protocol, probably
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ MPLS.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ And don?t forget that outside the United States, ATM
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ is still preferred by many service providers, which
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ have been installing ATM equipment for the past five
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ years. Of course, as IP demand grows, ATM?s
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ long-term future (greater than five years) is less
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ clear. However, if you believe, as I do, that MPLS is
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ as much ATM as it is IP, ATM?s future looks even
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ brighter. So, where does this leave ATM? Right
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ where it should be: in carrier access and backbone
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ networks.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 8888888888888888
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Steve Vogelsang, senior director of strategic and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ technical marketing, FORE Systems
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ --------------------------------------
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Those who recall the marketing campaigns around
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM in the early years will agree that we have not
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ yet experienced the marketed potential of ATM.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Marketers promised a world of high-quality data,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ voice and video transmission across a global ATM
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ network with on-demand bandwidth and QoS to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ every user. Unfortunately, the marketing promises
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ were premature by a few years and we are now just
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ beginning to feel the impact of ATM.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ A few years ago, ATM found its place in carrier
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ networks as a highly available transport for emerging
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ services such as frame relay and the Internet. ATM is
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ now being used to construct the access networks on
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ which carriers offer converged services including
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ VPNs, Internet and public voice (PSTN). Its ability
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ to provision services using a familiar
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ connection-switching model over a packet
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ (cell)-switched fabric makes it an attractive and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ practical technology for offering new
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ packet-switched services. By using ATM ?under the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ covers? in the core transmission and access
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ networks, carriers have taken the first step in
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ delivering on the potential of ATM.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ In the future ATM will serve as a catalyst in
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ delivering services with the ubiquitous connectivity,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ low unit cost and flexible bandwidth of the Internet
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ as well as the guaranteed bandwidth, high
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ availability and usage-based billing of traditional
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ telecom services. ATM?s current position in the core
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ of the Internet is serving as the proving ground for
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ emerging technologies such as MPLS.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ In the accessÿ network ATM is the foundation
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ upon which new IP-based services will be built,ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ including voice overÿÿ IP, and services enablingÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ on-demand IP data andÿ multimedia calls that leverageÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the existing PSTN callÿ model.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ When ATM?s full potential is realized it will not be
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the same ATM of days gone by. It will be a new
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ beast that combines the power of the Internet with the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ stability of the PSTN.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 8888888888888888
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Dr. Kurt Reiss, director, core platforms and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ services, InterNetworking Systems, Lucent
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Technologies
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ -------------------------------------
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Most service providers already have an ATM
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ network in place, so the next step is clear: Utilize the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ existing ATM backbone to consolidate all
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ services--including voice, data, IP, private line and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ wireless--onto this highly reliable and flexible
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ infrastructure. With a core ATM solution, service
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ providers can future-proof their networks and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ deliver emerging services as they mature and ATM
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ continues to evolve to support them.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM provides the bandwidth and intelligence that
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ service providers need to deliver all
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ revenue-generating services--voice, data and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ video--from a single network infrastructure.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ High-capacity ATM switches also allow the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ convergence of network layers, reducing equipment
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ costs and simplifying network operations. For
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ example, some ATM switches already have OC-48
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ optical interfaces allowing direct connection to the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ optical layer.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ The multiservice aggregation capabilities inherent in
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM allow emerging services to be added to the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ existing infrastructure, protecting it from
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ obsolescence. The intelligence of ATM networks
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ allows providers to rapidly provision new services
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ on the existing infrastructure, take advantage of QoS
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ benefits to bill customers based on service-priority
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ levels, and minimize costs.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Among the advances that will continue to develop in
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM backbones is relief for the PSTN. The PSTN
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ was engineered to handle voice calls that typically
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ last three to five minutes, not Internet modem calls
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ that can last hours. This can create severe public
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ safety issues, such as critical 911 calls not getting
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ through. Data call offloading and voice over ATM
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ do not require forklift upgrades to implement,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ preserving the benefits of billions of dollars in Class
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 5 switches deployed worldwide.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ These types of features will prove that the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ advantages offered by ATM today will continue to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ provide the foundation and capacity to deliver the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ services of the future.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 8888888888888888
ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ÿÿ Rod Odom, president, BellSouth Business Systems
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ --------------------------------------------
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM has rapidly become an integral part of service
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ provider backbones. We are just scratching the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ surface of the potential of ATM and will witness a
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ significant number of changes within the next decade.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ The standards for ATM are relatively mature, but the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ actual hardware and implementation are still
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ progressing. One example of that progression is
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ available bit rate (ABR), which is just now being
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ employed in CPE and provides for a more effective
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ use of bandwidth.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ÿ The Jackson Public Schools (JPS) district in
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Jackson, Miss., is on the leading edge of ATM
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ technology. The district chose to install an ATM
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ backbone to run its distance learning, video security,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ scheduling, Internet access, accounting and inventory
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ applications on one network. JPS is also conducting
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ a trial of a VoIP system to reside on the ATM
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ network. This aggressive move will deliver
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ improved communications services throughout the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ school district. With this innovative technology in
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ place, JPS will have access to virtually unlimited
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ bandwidth, and all broadband traffic, including
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ voice, video and data, will traverse the same
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ network.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Every business could potentially benefit from an
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM network. ATM allows administrators to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ monitor and manage their networks 24 hours a day.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ With ATM they can consistently measure the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ utilization and performance of their networks and be
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ alerted if more bandwidth is needed before
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ deterioration occurs. Additionally, the QoS of ATM
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ networks makes it possible for carriers to offer
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ competitive service level agreements (SLAs).
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Perhaps we may even see comprehensive SLAs
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ covering interlata, interstate and international
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ networks.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ With its cell architecture, flexibility and high
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ bandwidth, ATM is ideally suited to serve as the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ heart of carriers? IP network offerings in the coming
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ years. In the future, as businesses move to computer
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ telephony integration (CTI) and integrated
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ multimedia e-commerce applications, carriers will
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ migrate from the ATM foundation to the even greater
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ speeds of IP over SONET.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 8888888888888888
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Marty Kaplan, chief technology officer, Sprint
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ -----------------------------------------------------
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ To look at the future of ATM, you first have to look
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ at what it offers today. Currently, ATM provides
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Sprint with several basic attributes that are
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ necessary for integrating all services over a common
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ infrastructure. Those attributes are predictable
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ quality of service, congestion control, delivery
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ classes and dynamic bandwidth allocation
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ capabilities.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Sprint is looking at how best to optimize transport
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ and protocol efficiencies while at the same time
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ retaining those attributes previously mentioned. IP
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ gives us specific attributes, including efficient
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ multiplexing, interworking and multicasting. The
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ whole design of the Internet was ?IP over anything?--
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ IP over frame relay, IP over ATM, etc. Today,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ however, the reverse is not true.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ What we will see in the future is IP evolution
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ characterized by the merging of ATM with IP. This
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ new mode combines the best attributes of IP and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM. It will not look like the IP we see today; the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ packet structure will be different, as will the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ overhead structure. The merging of ATM and IP will
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ mirror what is presently happening in the transport
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ layer, where DWDM and SONET are merging.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ DWDM is more efficient, but the attributes of
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ SONET, such as timing, framing, survivability and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ service consistency, are required. So, DWDM will
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ take on the attributes of SONET. Applications will
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ be written in IP, so the new mode will probably be
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ called IP. We will gain value from not having to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ convert everything to IP.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 8888888888888888
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Vince Rocca, VP of engineering and CTO, 2nd
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Century
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ---------------------
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM has not realized its full potential because it has
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ been sold only as a transport service. In this
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ scenario, end users that purchase ATM must
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ understand the complexities of ATM to correctly
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ deploy it. This has proven to be a daunting task for
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ all but the most determined organizations. The real
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ value of ATM is as a local access service delivery
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ infrastructure. Here ATM itself is not presented to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the end user but rather is used to deliver services
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ efficiently by a carrier. Applications such as voice,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ video and Internet access can be delivered to a
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ customer via a single ATM access facility such as
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ DS-1 or DSL without the end user knowing that
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM is being used. By combining these services on
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ a single facility, significant savings can be realized
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ by carriers that traditionally have delivered these
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ services via separate access facilities. Also, since
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ services are truly integrated and bandwidth is
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ dynamically allocated as required, bandwidth is
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ shared among several services rather than dedicated.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Sharing bandwidth in this fashion effectively lowers
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the cost per bit to deliver services in the most
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ expensive portion of the network, the last mile.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM?s next step is to move from being a complex
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ technology that end users with limited resources must
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ retrain their work forces to use effectively to a
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ technology that carriers harness to deliver services
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ without requiring major expenditures by customers to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ use it.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 8888888888888888
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Bill Pearon, director of global product marketing,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Newbridge Networks
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ------------------------------------------------
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM has been on a roller coaster ride of criticism
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ lately. Not a year ago, IP proponents were ushering
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ in the premature demise of ATM due to the meteoric
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ proliferation of IP-based applications and services.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Only after the sobering realization that IP-based
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ services accounted for less than 4 percent of service
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ provider revenues in the United States in 1998 did
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the tide turn back to ATM?s strengths as an enabling
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ technology. After all, ATM was designed
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ specifically to provide efficient adaptation and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ consolidation of multiple services, both legacy and
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ emerging. Furthermore, while emerging IP services
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ promise to be the growth engines of tomorrow,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ legacy services provide the revenues today.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM?s maturity and acceptance is also due, in large
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ part, to its proven ability to deliver services in as
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ reliable a fashion as its predecessor networks. It is
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ living up to its original intention to be a resilient
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ multiservices protocol. There are also several
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ unexpected benefits from ATM?s capabilities. Not
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ only have multiple services been rolled off a single
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ platform, but now multiple network functions are
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ being performed within a single ATM platform,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ resulting in a simpler, flatter infrastructure. Digital
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ cross-connect functionality, Class 4 voice switch
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ functionality, integrated DSL delivery and direct
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ LMDS radio interfaces are just a few of the recent
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ creative implementations on ATM platforms.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Most interestingly, however, is ATM?s role in the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ future of IP core networks. ATM is providing the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ transitional solution for IP?s limitations in quality
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ and legacy service adaptation. IP core platforms are
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ utilizing ATM backplanes and IP QoS schemes are
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ mimicking ATM?s capabilities as IP continues to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ evolve as a future core network protocol. This
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ cooperative existence will continue well into the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ next decade as ATM?s enabling capabilities provide
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the springboard for IP?s credibility and robustness in
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the network core.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ 8888888888888888
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Rich Stankevich, ATM product marketing
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ manager, broadband systems division, General
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ DataComm
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ -------------------------------------------
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Worldwide, ATM has become a dominant
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ technological tool for service providers. The basis
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ of the technology and many of the standards defining
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ its ancillary features may be mature, but the provider
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ community is only now beginning to exercise the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM feature set and extract value from it. In the vast
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ majority of cases, the economies and efficiencies that
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ATM can provide remain largely untapped.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Several examples shed light on this.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ From the days when ATM was only an attractive theory, it was
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ perceived as a method for transport and switching of
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ broadband ISDN services--that is, dynamic,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ switched connectivity. Dynamic connection setup
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ and teardown allows for great efficiencies in the use
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ and management of facilities resources, yet many
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ providers have chosen to offer ATM services as
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ fixed, permanent virtual connections. In fact, most
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ core ATM networks today only offer subscribers
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ permanent virtual path (VP) connections: all the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ simpler to manage and operate. These subscriber VP
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ networks inefficiently use bandwidth and limit the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ capability of the provider to extend SLAs to the user
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ community. Narrowband-to-broadband signaling
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ interworking for dynamic WAN use and new
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ methods of WAN edge traffic shaping are some of
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the means by which service providers may gain more
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ flexible, assured use of their ATM investments.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Another area of unrealized ATM potential in the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ provider environment is in the ability to extract
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ billing/accounting information based on subscriber
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ usage. Whether data is collected at the service
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ network edge or network core, such information may
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ be manipulated for usage billing (with its own
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ attendant value to provider and subscriber). Usage
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ data may also be the basis for sophisticated
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ performance management, not only to tune the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ provider network, but also to monitor and ensure
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ subscriber services.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ All three issues--dynamic network use, more
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ sophisticated (and granular) traffic shaping, and the
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ creative application of usage metrics--will give
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ provider ATM networks the maturity they require to
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ support active interconnection with existing
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ subscriber applications and the burgeoning world of
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ IP services.ÿ
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ Perhaps straining the maturity metaphor,
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ the service providers of the world are graduating
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ from ATM University. It?s time to use what they?ve
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ learned.
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ RSNo. 306ÿÿ
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