However, the high cost associated with implementing ATM networks has kept their growth limited. The cost has kept ATM limited to mainly WAN and campus backbone applications and even these implementations are few. Large companies with large networks are the only users that have been able to justify their cost. There are many camps that feel the increased speed of IP networks may take the lead over ATM networks. The advent of Gigabit Ethernet with voice and video over IP has solidified this stance.
Ethernet is fairly ubiquitous in corporate networks today.
While Gigabit Ethernet still requires most networks to upgrade their equipment, the cost is still manageable. These questions will surely be answered as networks evolve over time. This paper has barely touched on ATM technology. ATM is very powerful and complex yet simple in its approach in converging voice, video and data networks. Further reading and discussion must be done if you want to gain a broader understanding of Asynchronous Transfer Mode.