Multistage switching for mixed SONET VT traffic, such as VT1.5s and VT2s, is accomplished by employing an input time switch, a space switch and an output time switch. The input time switch and output time switch include VT1.5 time switches arranged to alter the time order of the input VT1.5s and VT2 time switches arranged to alter the time order to the input VT2s. The space switch includes a VT1.5 space switch arranged to order the input VT1.5s with respect to output channels in an output channel order different from the input channel order of the VT1.5s. The space switch also includes a VT2 space switch arranged to order the input VT2s with respect to output channels in an output channel order different from the input channel order of the VT2s.