"Optical communications and fiber technology are fast becoming key solutions for the increasing bandwidth demands of the 21st century. This introductory text provides practicing engineers, managers, and students with a useful guide to the latest developments and future trends of three major technologies: SONET, SDH, and ATM, and a brief introduction to legacy TDM communications systems. There are clear explanations of: * How ATM is mapped onto SONET/SDH * The role of IP networking with ATM * Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) * The future direction of convergence of communications. This concise book features easy–to–follow illustrations, review questions, worked examples, and valuable references. An accompanying CD–ROM provides the key figures in full color, suitable for easy cut–and–paste presentations. UNDERSTANDING SONET/SDH AND ATM is a must–read for communication professionals who want to improve their knowledge of this emerging technology." Sponsored by: IEEE Communications Society