MANs and BISDNs, Networks for Tomorrow

A growing market demand for high-performance voice, data, image and video networks, coupled with advances is high-speed technologies has heightened interest in Broadband ISDN (B-ISDN) throughout the world. Network providers, equipment manufacturers and standards bodies are working jointly to accelerate the definition of B-ISDN interfaces in anticipation of emerging market opportunities. B-ISDN is being designed as the foundation upon which to implement very flexible, high-bandwidth, high-performance networks. A multiplexing concept called Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) which can offer bandwidth on demand at rates exceeding 150 Mbps, high-speed packet switching, and an efficient protocol which adapts existing information streams into the ATM format are key attributes of the emerging B-ISDN network standards. This paper reviews the motivations behind B- ISDN, explains its key attributes and challenges and discusses possible strategies for evolving today's network toward B-ISDN.