Which networking technology uses switching and multiplexing to transmit data, voice, and video at high speeds and serves as a data-link layer protocol for LANs and WANs?

• A. Asset
• B. Asynchronous Transfer Mode
• C. Authentication
• D. Backup

Answer: (B)

Asynchronous Transfer Mode uses fixed-size cells and virtual circuits to switch and multiplex traffic, allowing data, voice, and video to be transported at high speeds. It was designed to provide a uniform data-link layer service across LANs and WANs, so it can carry diverse traffic with defined quality of service. The fixed 53-byte cells simplify hardware switching, enabling fast, predictable performance for real-time communications. This combination of switching and multiplexing at the data-link layer is what makes ATM the best fit for the description. The other terms don’t describe a data-link layer technology or a high-speed, multiplexed transport protocol.