Cell Relay Archive

[pai@sedalia.sinet.slb.com (Dennis Juihwa Pai)]

Hi,
    I have a question regarding future network architecture.  From some of
the ATM network design research papers I have seen, it seesm to be that
people regard the ATM network as a logical network embedded in a 
physical network.  By physical network, I mean network composed of SONET/SDH
Digital Cross Connects and Mux/Demuxs.  Is this what the future network 
is going to look like?  Would it be possible one day to replace all the DCS
and Muxs with just ATM switch and ATM Muxs?  I understand that the physical 
tranmission standard between two ATM switchs would probably be SONET/SDH but would
it be possible to construct a nationwide backbone network strictly composed
of ATM network equipments with the SONET/SDH equipments involved be only
involved in the regenerators and in the ATM physical layer?

Thanks in advance for any comments or suggestions.

Dennis