T1 Connection Lines
While standard copper telephone lines can transfer data and voice at a rate of about 30,000 bits per second using a dial-up modem, a T1 line can transmit 1.544 megabits per second, or can be used to transmit twenty-four digitized voice channels. Hence, it can be used for phone service in a commercial building, for instance, or for data transfer on a network, providing service up to sixty times faster than a traditional modem. Businesses with more than eight phone lines may save money by getting a dedicated T1 line to loop to the place of business from the local phone company office. This can reduce telecom charges and provide high-speed Internet access at the same time. The business will be charged for one T1 line, rather than eight separate telephone lines. Pricing for the T1 line will depend on the distance of the loop.
The cost of a T1 line can be expensive, but prices are dropping as demand grows. Internet service providers will lease T1 lines to provide service to their network of clients. Other multiplexed fiber optic lines include T2 and T3 lines, which can transfer up to 44.736 megabits per second. A T3 line is equal to having twenty-eight T1 lines, and is used by larger businesses with higher data and voice demands. More advanced T-standards also exist, though are not in high use.
The European Union uses a different, incompatible type of carrier line, called the E1 and E3. The E2 line is also available but less common.
A T1 line is not cost-effective for individual or residential use. In this case, DSL or cable service is a better choice. Small businesses and government agencies, particularly those using a PBX will benefit most from a dedicated T1 line.
The difference between a fractional T1 and a full T1 is that a fractional T1 offers less bandwidth than a full T1 and comes with the same quality and performance guarantees as a full 1.54 Mbps T1 but costs slightly less. How much less bandwidth vs. the cost savings is the question. Although the price reduction is not what you might expect it to be, this may put a T1 in your budget and be a great way to get dedicated service into your building. Once you have fractional service upgrading to full service is easy. The reason it is easy is due to the install. Same amount of overhead, crews, time, and connections. A fractional T is a full T1 capable circuit it is throttled back to deliver only a portion. Contact your broker or provider and you can increase bandwidth within a few business days.
Fractional service usually comes in 256Kbps increments from 256Kbps all the way to a full T1 at 1.5Mbps. Find the service that is right for you, but if you are supporting critical services think reliability. Reliability becomes critical when customers or employees depend on your connection for immediate responses. If your customers use your connection to access, your databases or your server or the internet then reliability of your connection is critical. If your employees depend on your connections because you host the e-mail server in house or host web servers or ASP type products, your connections are critical.
