System and method of multiplexing digitized calls on intersystem transmission circuits in a radio telecommunications network

A system and method of multiplexing a plurality of digitized data and packetized voice calls on an intersystem transmission circuit in a radio telecommunication system having a plurality of mobile switching centers (MSCs) connected by intersystem transmission circuits having a fixed bandwidth. Frame relay techniques are utilized to create a plurality of variable length frames for transporting data for the calls. A plurality of logical links are then associated with the intersystem transmission circuit, and the frames are logically connected to logical links associated with the intersystem transmission circuit. A frame handler in each MSC statistically multiplexes a plurality of the logical links on the intersystem transmission circuit by determining a combination of packetized voice and data frames that utilizes the highest percentage of the fixed bandwidth of the intersystem transmission circuit, queuing frames as necessary, and multiplexing the determined combination of voice and data frames on the intersystem transmission circuit utilizing a Data Link Connection Identifier (DLCI) address field to multiplex a plurality of logical frame relay connections over the intersystem transmission circuit.