Internet/intranet access mechanism

An access server connected to a plurality of network termination (NT) points and at least one service provider (SP), wherein each of the plurality of NT points is associated with at least one customer premises equipment (CPE), the access server comprising:

• an access server function configured to:
• multiplex user data destined to the at least one CPE;
• communicate the multiplexed user data destined to the at least one CPE from the access server to a respective one of the plurality of NT points over a single permanent virtual connection;
• and
• receive user data originating from the at least one CPE from the respective one of the plurality of NT points over the single permanent virtual connection, wherein a tunneling protocol between the respective one of the plurality of NT points and the access server combines sessions and signaling from the at least one CPE into a single tunnel;
• and
• a routing function configured to route the user data originating from the at least one CPE to at least one SP selected from the at least one SP using an integrated signaling protocol between the at least one CPE and the access server based on a SP indication received from the at least one CPE.