Various T1 Lines
With the Internet such a vital part of everyday business, more and more companies are using T1 lines because of their speed and reliability. T1 Internet access lets your employees consistently communicate and exchange data with co-workers, customers, and vendors at speeds much faster than standard dial-up. T1 is symmetrical connection, allowing for downloads and uploads of up to 1.5 Mbps. A single T1 connection can support dozens to hundreds of users, but speed and efficiency drops as more people use it simultaneously.
There are various kinds of T1 lines. A T1
line is used to handle either your voice or data needs. A fractional
T1 uses only a portion of the total bandwidth for a percentage of a full
T1 rate. Integrated T1 provides voice and data on the same digital circuit.
A burstable T1 is a pay as you go service. This provides a set amount of
bandwidth at all times, but also offers the ability to tap into much greater
bandwidth during high traffic spikes.
You can also decide how many of the T1 connections
twenty-four channels will be reserved for voice calls, and what’s left will
be used for data. A bonded T1 offers the full bandwidth of multiple T1s
at once for better speed and performance. Combining individual T1s into
a single pipeline allows for more bandwidth than two separate T1 lines.
After the combination of the separate lines is complete, a T1 provider or
Internet access broker installs routers, connects your LAN, configures IP
addresses and firewall security, and sets up any other equipment noted on
the contract. It usually takes about fifty days from the contract signing
to set up your office for access. The contract you sign for T1 access should
be comprehensive, with no unwanted surprises or hidden fees, such as detailing
all costs, length of service, and the SLA. The contract length for T1 Internet
access is three years and may include all setup fees, installation costs,
and equipment.
Never forget that there is one drawback of a T1 connection, which is the
expense. For companies that rely heavily on employee and customer access
to data and applications, T1 is worth the investment. Reliability is probably
the most important factor in choosing an ISP. In addition, a telecommunications
contractor will come to your office to set up and test the necessary circuits.
