Inverse multiplexing over ATM (IMA) port adapters for the Cisco 7200 and 7500 series routers offer a cost-effective solution to increase bandwidth and extend multiservice capabilities to regional offices and large branches with ATM. By aggregating T1 or E1 communications links using standards-based IMA, service providers and enterprise customers can now take advantage of greater bandwidth flexibility as well as the advanced quality-of-service (QoS) features available with an ATM WAN infrastructure.IMA is an ATM Forum specification that provides a cost-effective and scalable alternative to T3/E3 services by offering service providers and enterprise customers the ability to leverage widely available T1 services over ATM, and interoperate with other vendors' standards-based equipment. Multiport T1/E1 IMA can provide organizations with highly desired fractional T3/E3 bandwidth connectivity so critical in situations where DS3 or OC-3 fiber communications links are either cost prohibitive or unavailable.