Abstract: A congestion detection system and method for an advanced ATM network measures congestion in a number of dimensions. In one embodiment, cell traffic is measured on a per virtual channel basis, per service class queue basis and a per device basis within an input routing table, and additionally on a per virtual output and per service class basis within an output routing table. In a specific embodiment, upon each measurement, cell traffic is compared to thresholds corresponding to that measurement's congested and maximum limit and a congestion or maximum signal is sent if that threshold is exceeded.