1. A communications network for delivery of broadband and narrowband communications services comprising: a plurality of communications servers, each one of which is arranged for perforating in a modular fashion no more than one of the switching and signaling functions which are a) selected from a group which includes channel control, call control, and connection control, and b) comprised of related switching and signaling applications processes in order to minimize the number of signaling messages exchanged between said communications servers; and communications means for enabling said exchange of signaling messages between at least two of the communications servers.