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.Enterprise customers can take advantage of IMA bandwidth flexibility on the Cisco 7200 series routers to provide an affordable LAN-to-WAN connectivity solution in the regional office or large branch office, and wherever they deploy ATM edge applications. The greater overall bandwidth, and the incremental nature in which bandwidth capacity can be added as needed, support the rapidly growing multiservice needs of today's enterprise. Service providers can deliver critical integrated ATM services combining voice, video, and data with ATM QoS features. With multiport IMA deployed as customer premises equipment (CPE) edge equipment, network service providers can deliver unmatched flexibility and a wide range of services to their customers.