How effective are DSL technologies over ATM and IP networks?
ATM and IP are types of data protocol. A protocol is an agreed set of rules for passing and transferring pieces of data. IP is the basic protocol used by the Internet. ATM is a new protocol that will enable different types of service such as voice, data and video, to be integrated onto the same link, and has begun to be deployed for large high-speed backbone networks. ATM and IP do not alone provide a network, since the protocols have to apply to a communications link. DSL technology is one way of providing that transport link. Both ATM and IP protocols can therefore be used to set the rules for transporting data over a DSL link.
