The family of multichannel interfaces decrease cost and increase manageability of WAN links by:
- Eliminating the need for any external CSU/DSUs or multiplexers
- Providing up to 128 software configurable WAN connections per single-wide port adapter
- Supporting both clear channel T1/E1 connections and channelized T1/E1 connections on the same card
- Handling all major encapsulations including ISDN and Frame Relay
With these capabilities, the family of multichannel interfaces eliminate the need for separate interface types for separate connection types. At a cost per T1/E1 port less than that of a standard serial port with external CSU/DSU, Cisco's family of multichannel interfaces are cost-effective for all WAN connectivity.