MOBILE NETWORKS USING ATM SWITCHING

The invention relates to telecommunication networks and particularly to mobile networks using Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) transmission systems. The invention also relates to the control of mobility and call control functions in ATM systems. According to the invention, a network element (MSC/BSC) of a telecommunication network, such as a mobile network, which in a conventional telecommunication network architecture ensures the switching of circuit-switched connections, is provided with an ATM switching function. ATM switching functions are controlled with the same call and switching control operations (31) that are conventionally used e.g. for the control of a TDM switching field (32) in a PLMN network element. In a minimum implementation, an ATM switching field (301) provided with a suitable control interface (30) is simply arranged in place of or parallel with the TDM switching field. The switching network element thus becomes an ATM network node of a physical or a logical interface layer. PLMN level signalling, mobility management and call control are implemented using solutions offered by existing mobile networks and current PLMN network elements.