Frame relay is an interface used for wide-area networking.
It is used to reduce the cost of connecting remote sites, in any application that would typically use expensive leased circuits. The more locations you have, the greater your savings. With the right carrier service, frame relay network links may be quickly adjusted to meet changes to applications and network topology. Because network managers must react quickly when a new application, organizational unit, business partner or location is needed, leased-line networks often present a roadblock. Using frame relay, backbone changes can be quickly programmed by the carrier, saving the long installation delays and high costs associated with running physical circuits.