PURPOSE: To efficiently use an ATM circuit by providing a throughput control part for outputting a data transfer request signal until a throughput determined in advance is obtained.

CONSTITUTION: An ATM(Asynchronous Transfer Mode) terminal equipment is provided with a constant cycle counter 3, and also, provided with a transfer quantity counter 4 for counting the amount of information transferred actually within a prescribed time, and provided with a throughput control part 1 for outputting a data transfer request signal until the transfer quantity is transferred within a constant cycle time on the average, until a throughput determined in advance is obtained. In such a state, within a constant cycle time, a data request signal being below the time determined asynchronously timewise by the throughput is outputted. Accordingly, in the case information is generated above an average throughput, the ATM terminal for utilizing efficiently an ATM circuit by executing control so as to always become an average throughput value, irrespective of a state of a bus can be obtained.