T1 Help
T1 connections are great ways to have a high speed internet connection and have a good way to communicate with other people and or businesses for a low price. Internet T1 is a great way to connect with other people on the same internet line. A single T1 connection can support dozens to hundreds of users, but speed and efficiency drops as more people use it simultaneously. Monthly T1 prices range from $250 to $1,000, with a similar cost for the initial setup. Fractional T1s run about $100-$200 per month.
Bonded T1s are normally priced at a multiple of a regular T1 line, so three bonded T1 lines equal around $750 to $3,000 per month. Standard T1 Internet prices include the phone companys local loop charge, which is usually $150 and up. Most vendors will either provide the equipment free, or tie them into the monthly pricing. Certain setup fees can also be cleared depending on the length of a contract.
If you are using a dedicated T1 for voice, the circuit would plug into your existing phone system. If you are using a dedicated data T1, then your circuit will plug into your network router. T1 service provides 24 channels coming into your office. Each of these 24 channels can be configured for voice, data or integrated voice/data service. Today, with the wide spread popularity of VoIP, you can also configure a full T1 for data and run VoIP for your office phone needs.
Depending on your data requirements, it may also be cost effective to use a dedicated T1 data service. For normal surfing, you can have hundreds of users all sharing this dedicated T1 data service. To take this a step further you may consider using VoIP over a dedicated T1 data service. Be sure to ask your communications broker about the best setup to meet your specific requirements. With the Internet such a vital part of everyday business, more and more companies are choosing always-on broadband connections, and T1 lines are one of the most popular. 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.
Keep in mind that Integrated T1 Provides voice and data on the same digital circuit and you can decide how many of the T1 connections 24 channels will be reserved for voice calls, and whats left is used for data. It is also helpful to know that a Burstable T1 is pay as you go. This offers the ability to tap into much greater bandwidth during high traffic spikes. Bonded T1 offers the full bandwidth of multiple T1s at once for better speed and performance.
People often forget that reliability is probably the most important factor in choosing an ISP. With service level agreements, access providers pay penalties to customers for downtime exceeding specified totals. The most obvious drawback of a T1 connection is the cost. T1 provides a very reliable connection, but you will pay for that guaranteed uptime.
Also, for businesses that rely heavily on employee and customer access to data and applications, T1 is worth the investment. The contract you sign for T1 access should be comprehensive, with no unwanted surprises or hidden fees, detailing all costs, length of service, and the
