Qwest ATM service is a powerful broadband, network transport service that provides a fast and exceptionally efficient way to transmit large amounts of information across the United States and to over 28 countries worldwide. Backed by quality of service (QoS) guarantees, information moves over a highly reliable and closed network providing data security and privacy. With ATM service, more critical traffic receives the greatest resources and the best service. Prioritize your traffic through the different ATM service categories–Constant Bit Rate (CBR), Variable Bit Rate real time (VBRrt), Variable Bit Rate non-real time (VBRnrt), Available Bit Rate (ABR), and Unspecified Bit Rate (UBR)–to support different types of information (e.g., data, video, Internet, and/or voice over a single Wide Area Network (WAN)). Qwest ATM service is suitable for a wide range of business applications.

How ATM Works

Customer information travels across a physical access link to a Qwest ATM service port in an ATM switch. Because ATM Service uses high speed networking technology to divide information into fixed segments called cells, ATM simplifies information handling, resulting in high-speed data connectivity and low delay. Information (data, video, Internet and/or voice) is segmented into 53 byte fixed length cells. At the ATM service port, information is sent across virtual logical connections simultaneously to multiple destinations.

ATM switches know where each cell begins and ends and where to send the information. The switching hardware does not make routing decisions for each cell–this is done only at the connection setup or during the network topology changes–thus the low delay of ATM.

ATM service requires customer premises equipment (CPE). The CPE accumulates information and puts it into the fixed-size cells for transmission over the Qwest ATM network.

About Qwest ATM Service

Provides peak performance and increases network capacity

• Qwest ATM service is built on a redundant, secure and scalable fiber-optic network infrastructure that yields very high service reliability standards.
• The geographically disparate redundant Qwest Worldwide Data Operations Centers provide proactive monitoring and network maintenance 24/7, 365 days per year.
• Bandwidth is allocated based on application needs; or, you can use SVCs (Qwest Domestic ATM Service) and pay only for bandwidth used.

Reduces network complexity

• Integration of data, video, Internet and/or voice onto a single network infrastructure without compromising the unique need of each business application
• Internetworking with other Qwest services (i.e., Frame Relay Service, DSL, LAN Switching Service)

Allows for network consolidation

• Costs (equipment, network, operations and/or administration) are lowered because different business applications supported over separate networks and access links are now supported over a single network and access link.
• ATM supports scalability and QoS of current and future strategic applications with very high bandwidth and stringent QoS requirements.
• There are no distance-sensitive charges within the ATM service area.
• ATM service can serve as the backbone for IP-based services.

Improves network flexibility, reliability and security

• Allows you to easily add or delete virtual connections, enabling an easy network reconfiguration to meet changing business needs
• Provided over a highly reliable, flexible secure fiber-optic ATM network with QoS guarantees
• Current networking needs met while providing an IP-capable networking platform to build upon for future business applications

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