Page "Frame Relay" Paragraph 2

With the advent of Ethernet over fiber optics, MPLS, VPN and dedicated broadband services such as cable modem and DSL, the end may loom for the Frame Relay protocol and encapsulation.

However many rural areas remain lacking DSL and cable modem services.

In such cases the least expensive type of non-dial-up connection remains a 64-kbit / s frame-relay line.

Thus a retail chain, for instance, may use Frame Relay for connecting rural stores into their corporate WAN.