Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch and method for switching ATM traffic

An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch includes a switch memory having a plurality of discrete queues. A queue is dedicated to a connection in which a traffic stream is transmitted in cells and an inverse multiplex ATM (IMA) format. A switch controller is operable to receive a plurality of cells, to identify cells for the connection, to queue cells for the connection in the queue based on order information received with the cells, to reconstitute from the queue the traffic stream, and to switch the traffic stream and the ATM cells.