Table of Contents:

Definition and Overview

1. Introduction

2. Historical Overview

3. A New Architecture

4. The Next-Generation Switch

5. Flexible Deployment Options

6. Changing the Economic Model

Self-Test

Glossary

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API
applications programming interface

ATM
asynchronous transfer mode

CLEC
competitive local exchange carrier

CO
central office

ILEC
incumbent local exchange carrier

IP
Internet protocol

PoP
point of presence

PSDN
public switched data network

PSTN
public switched telephone network

RSM
remote switching module

SCE
service-creation environment

TDM
time division multiplexing

VoIP
voice over IP

VPN
virtual private network