Abstract: A method of connecting a telecommunications network, in which the network is formed of plural nodes connected by plural spans. Each node has a nodal switching device for making connections between adjacent spans meeting at the node. Method steps A-F are followed. A) Select a set of candidate rings, each candidate ring being formed of nodes connected by spans, the candidate rings each being capable of serving a number of demands and having a ring construction cost C. B) Assess the total transport utility U of each candidate ring, wherein the total transport utility is a measure of at least the number of demands served by the respective candidate ring. C) Assess the construction cost of each candidate ring. D) Calculate a ratio formed of U/C for each candidate ring. E) Choose, from the set of candidate rings, a best set of candidate rings, wherein candidate rings in the best set of candidate rings have a higher ratio of U/C than candidate rings not in the best set.

Abstract: A packet multiplexing apparatus is presented for multiplexing packets to be transmitted from a number of user facilities to a local service node in such a way to assure equal access to the output port for all the users. The apparatus is provided with input ports for inputting a packet in a respective input port; a buffer memory provided for each input port for temporary storage of a packet; an output signal transmission circuit for retrieving a packet from each buffer memory in a specific sequence; an output port for transmitting packets output from the output signal transmission circuit; and a retrieval sequencing section for controlling the specific sequence by changing a retrieving order of packets from buffer memories for each complete round of packet retrieval so that a frequency of the retrieving order for each input port is uniformly shared by the input ports.