Functional requirements (Linkage)
Initial layer-2 connectivity to other gigapops is expected to utilize ATM PVCs from the vBNS plus some dedicated links that may be ATM PVCs or SVCs, or raw SONET links.
The linkages among gigapop routers connected to wide-area links will typically be provided by high-performance switches, typically either a cell-based or a frame-based service, depending on the needs of each specific gigapop.