Abstract: A system is disclosed to provide a voice gateway to deliver voice over Asynchronous Transfer Mode (VoATM) via an electronic network for digital data signals, by transferring and converting voice streams from a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), via at least one local exchange, for transmission at a constant bit rate and encapsulates voice data on ATM cells for delivery to customer premises equipment (CPE), such as at least one Primary Rate Interface (PRI) port, said system including a voice gateway to deliver the VoATM, a central office-based inter-working function (CO-IWF) that interfaces said CPE directly to said electronic network, said CO-IWF having a port control protocol for transferring activation/deactivation indications or requests over said CPE to CO-IWF interface and a customer premises inter-working function (CP-IWF) that serves as a gateway between said digital data signals used in said electronic network and said PSTN.