The proliferation of high-speed local data networking and the potential of new multimedia service offerings have spurred worldwide research activities in broadband telecommunications networks. A first-of-its-kind volume, An Introduction to Broadband Networks is a basic text that thoroughly explains local, metropolitan, and wide-area broadband networks for integrating voice, data, image, and video. Presenting important concepts in clear prose, the author examines modern telecommunications systems, such as current high-speed networks; describes newly emerging approaches; and offers possible foundations for the telecommunications infrastructure of the next decade. To encourage further study, the comprehensive discussions include highlighted sections on mathematical development and a selection of problem sets. With further insight provided through a combination of basic performance analysis and survey of applications, the text describes the genesis of broadband networks; the relationships between LANs, MANs (FDDI, IEEE 802.6 DQDB), WANs, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and broadband ISDN; several ATM switch architectures and a comparative study of their performances; traffic-related management strategies for wide-area ATM networks; and emerging concepts for all-optical, or "passive," lightwave networks. Ideal as an introductory text for students and non-specialists new to this exciting field, An Introduction to Broadband Networks is also an important reference for experienced telecommunications professionals, including systems designers, hardware and software engineers, research and development managers, and market planners.