Abstract: There is provided a variable rate TDM switching system comprising steps of: arranging a plurality of incoming lines and a plurality of sending lines in lattice form; providing time-division gates at cross-points of the incoming lines and the sending lines; connecting time-division temporal switches having a function of transposing the order of time slots in input TDM frames to forward stage of respective incoming lines of the time-division space switches for performing the switching between the incoming lines and the sending lines with time slot unit while holding the multiplexing, by switching these time-division gates; connecting a scheduler for concentratedly controlling the time-division gates and the time-division temporal switches to these gates and time switches; transmitting the headers of the TDM frames to the scheduler in case of inputting the header of TDM frame, and deciding the temporal switching schedule by the scheduler as to the transposition of the order of time slots in the time-division tem