New services for internet data and multimedia applications have caused a fast-growing demand for broadband communications. The fundamental technologies for the integration of these services have been developed in the last decade: optical communications, photonic switching, high-speed local area networks, asynchronous transfer mode, ISDN, B-ISDN, internet packet networks, and mobile communications. This development was made possible through the dynamic progress in communication and computer technologies and through worldwide standardization activities within various organizations. These developments have been supported by research and field trial programs. Past developments in LAN, internet, and ISDN networking technologies have shown that it takes about 10 years for a new technology to progress from its research stage to implementation.