The development of Passive Optical Networks (PONs) and ATM for broadband applications currently presents the leading edge of telecommunications research. This edited volume, collating the expertise of international academics and researchers, describes the most advanced communication systems developed on a multinational basis. Firstly presenting the development of ATM and PONs technologies, the next goes on describe the development of an Access Network using these concepts. Discussions include a broad range of issues from layered architectures, burst mode communication and synchronisation, to high speed encryption and trial description.