This IDC study discusses how the ATM switch market continues to struggle as leading network service providers (NSPs) start their migration to an all-IP network. Despite these challenges, the ATM switch remains an essential component of the NSPs' ability to offer frame relay and ATM services ? a $22 billion market.

"ATM demand driven by a huge number of new DSL subscribers is starting to moderate due to the migration of DSLAMs based on ATM aggregation to Ethernet/IP. Price erosion and technology competition from IP/MPLS routers remain as market inhibitors. The ATM switch will continue as a key part of most large NSP networks, but it is unlikely to be a growth market for network equipment providers." ? Lee Doyle, group VP, Network Infrastructure