Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing private line connections between two lines connected to private terminals. A Provisioning Office exchanges signaling messages with the two switches connected to the two lines. The exchange of signaling messages allows one of the two switches to identify the two end system addresses of an interswitch network for interconnecting the two terminals. Advantageously, standard protocol messages can be used for establishing these private packet connections. Advantageously, the process of establishing private line connections is automated from the step of identifying the two lines to be connected in the Provisioning Office. Advantageously, this arrangement does not require the segregation of private network facilities.