Businesses often want greater internet bandwidth, lower telecommunication costs, or both. A relatively new service called 5x5 Ethernet might be the solution.

Ethernet services are a recent development. Before their rise in popularity, the best bandwidth options were T1 lines and fractional DS3 bandwidth. Fixed location wireless service has sometimes been available, but only for locations with a direct line of sight to their provider.

How do Ethernet services improve upon previous options? They frequently offer greater bandwidth at lower costs, even for low bandwidth services over copper.

Ethernet services are often categorized as Metro Ethernet, Carrier Ethernet, or by their bandwidth level. For example, 5x5 Mbps Ethernet denotes a dedicated speed of 5 Mbps for both uploads and downloads. This symmetrical bandwidth is standard for other telecom services but differs significantly from consumer-oriented services like DSL and Cable broadband.

Symmetrical bandwidth is crucial for transferring files between locations or backing up data to the cloud or a remote data center. In contrast, asymmetrical services, which have slower upload speeds, are designed for web browsing. This is because downloading web pages involves more data than sending commands to the server. While this also applies to video streaming, it doesn’t hold for video conferencing. Generally, any two-way online activity benefits from symmetrical bandwidth.

If your business currently relies on a T1 line or a combination of T1 lines, also known as fractional DS3 bandwidth, EoC (Ethernet over Copper) might be a more cost-effective solution. You’ll experience the same high quality of service expected from T1 or other telecom services but at a reduced price.

How much can you save? Suppose your business requires 5 Mbps symmetrical bandwidth for file transfers, video conferencing, or dedicated internet access. You could approximate this by combining three T1 lines to achieve 4.5 Mbps or four T1 lines for 6 Mbps. However, T-carrier service requires upgrades in 1.5 Mbps increments.

The issue with T1 lines is the lack of economies of scale. Two lines cost double a single line, and three lines, necessary for 4.5 Mbps, triple the price. Additionally, increasing bandwidth requires installing new lines, and there’s no cost-saving benefit to having additional capacity.

Comparatively, Ethernet pricing is more competitive than T1. Often, 2 Mbps Ethernet costs the same or less than a T1 line, and sometimes even 3 Mbps is available at that price. Your 5x5 Mbps Ethernet will likely cost roughly twice as much as a T1 line but deliver over three times the bandwidth. You might even find a better deal. The ambiguity in these figures arises from the fact that both T1 and Ethernet pricing depends heavily on the available services and competition at your business location.

It’s also important to note that Ethernet over Copper utilizes the same twisted-pair telephone wiring as T1 service. The technology leverages multiple pairs to increase bandwidth and is significantly more scalable than T-carrier services.

To optimize your setup, install an Ethernet port capable of handling your anticipated bandwidth needs in the foreseeable future. Then, order the bandwidth you require immediately. You should be able to upgrade your bandwidth quickly and effortlessly whenever needed by simply contacting your provider, without installation or construction delays.

Ready for concrete numbers comparing Ethernet to T1 and DS3 services? Get pricing and availability for 5x5 Mbps Ethernet over Copper and other bandwidth services now.