More companies are using ATM, but the technology is still relatively new and untested. For instance, network equipment may be configured in a unique way, and an ISP may find that not all of the components function together. Also, quick deployment schedules may not leave carriers with sufficient time to thoroughly test all the equipment used in a network upgrade. For one day, the company's 6 million users could not send or receive electronic mail messages. To avoid such problems, ISPs have to improve their network planning and upgrades.
Experience seems to be leading to improvement.
But during the past six months, we've encountered fewer and fewer problems. Just as ISPs seem to be getting their arms around backbone network upgrades, a new slew of potential problem spots are arising at the front end of their networks. Having grown weary of staring at their PCs as they download large graphics files, customers are demanding faster network access. Interport Communications Co. , New York, NY, is a regional ISP that serves approximately 11,000 dial-up modem users. Company President Emmanuel Kwahk says its users are constantly looking to increase dial-up access speeds.