Distributed packet switching system

A switching system (10) including a number of switching modules (1000, 1020, 1050) each having a plurality of access ports (P6, P7, P27 P56). Incoming and outgoing packet channels (81, 82) are extended between each switching module and an inter-module packet switch (2012). Each switching module includes a packet switching unit (1400) that transmits user information packets, received from the access ports, via the incoming packet channel to the inter-module packet switch, and switches user information packets, received via the outgoing packet channel from the inter-module packet switch, to the access ports for inter-module packet-switched communication. The inter-module packet switch concurrently packet switches user information packets, received on a number of the incoming packet channels, via multiple independent paths (2001, 2002, 2003) to a number of the outgoing packet channels.