Abstract: An electronic system includes a backplane, a first plurality of slots coupled to the backplane, the first plurality of slots having a first electrical interface to be coupled to electrical circuit cards of a first type, wherein the electrical circuit cards of the first type receive network data and convert the network data to SONET formatted data, and a second plurality of slots coupled to the backplane, the second plurality of slots having a second electrical interface to electrical circuit cards of a second type. The backplane routes data signals between the first plurality of slots and the second plurality of slots.