The development of packet data communications in the ISDN

As a circuit-switched network the ISDN inherently supports circuit-switched data services. But an increasing number of Information Technology applications involve short interactive transactions for which packet switching is the natural choice. Integrated access to packet mode services is therefore an important element of service integration in the ISDN. Following a brief historical perspective and review of the current arrangements and standards for supporting packet mode services in the ISDN, the authors discuss how packet mode services are likely to develop in the ISDN during the next few years, how these may be supported, and what the outstanding issues are