Telefonica de Espana SA is one of five European telecommunications operators developing a high-speed Asynchronous Transfer Mode network. It is judged that Asynchronous Transfer Mode will be the most efficient means of communication between top European companies in the near future. Other firms involved in the venture are British Telecommunications Plc, France Telecom, Deutsche Bundespost Telekom and Stet SpA. The project will be piloted next year in accordance with International Telegraphic and Telephonic Consultative Committee standards and European Telecommunications Standards Institute specifications. The aim is to have at least one 34Mbps connection in each of the respective countries, and the network is expected to be up and running by the start of 1995. Hewlett-Packard Co and Digital Equipment Corp have both expressed interest in the scheme.
