Abbreviated ATM. A method used for transmitting voice, video, and data over high-speed LANs and WANs. ATM uses continuous bursts of fixed-length packets called cells to transmit data. The basic packet consists of 53 bytes, 5 of which are used for control functions and 48 for data.
ATM is a connection-oriented protocol, and two kinds of connections are possible:
Speeds of up to 2.488Gbps have been achieved in testing. ATM will find wide acceptance in the LAN and WAN arenas as a solution to integrating disparate networks over large geographical distances. Also known as cell relay.
See also permanent virtual circuit; switched virtual circuit.