the invention proposes a method for handling atm traffic comprising packets of aal5 type composed of atm cells , at a network node at vp - layer . the method comprises monitoring each of the cells incoming the node to obtain information at least on its vc - layer and vp - layer parameters , processing information on the mentioned parameters and registering the processed information concerning each of the cells in a statistical database to obtain statistical data with respect to at least the vc - layer and vp - layer parameters of the packets handled at the node .