Hardware that interconnects multiplexers with line terminating equipment and other multiplexers. Access to signals is often available through jacks associated with a test board located near the cross-connect.

a piece of equipment that provides flexible connections between its termination points

The wires or patch cable connecting a voice or data circuit through from one cable to another. Cross-connects are usually found at cable terminals or patch panels.

An ATM switch usually comprising three functional areas. The three areas are system control, the central control unit, and the ATM "fabric block." Each of these functional system areas is configured according to the specified needs of the respective network node. Each functional area usually has its own monitoring and control units for safeguarding the high availability of the complete system.