Virtual circuit-switched network architectures

ATM, Frame Relay, X.25, and MPLS are examples of virtual circuit-switching networking protocols. An established circuit intrinsically guarantees that information is delivered in order and will not be replicated. Communication impairments through a physical circuit-switched network (such as a traditional TDM telephony network) are well-defined and can be bound easily by proper network design. However, packet delay, jitter, and loss impairments are not necessarily limited in a virtual circuit-switching network. Additional traffic control facilities and proper network design techniques are needed to restrict impairments.