isr.co.ro : glossary ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) A recently-popular standard for high-speed data communication that's increasingly used for network backbone connections and other high-traffic circuits. Typically, ATM links run at speeds from several hundred kilobits per second to several hundred megabits. Because they feature small transmission delays and dynamic allocation of bandwidth, they're particularly suited for digital video and multimedia connections. If you've outgrown an ISDN line or other medium-speed connection, most telephone companies or a growing range of alternative access providers will lease you ATM capacity. It might be just what you need if you run a video production house or an advertising agency. The price, however, is likely to be similarly large in scale.