The most popular high-reliability broadband option for businesses, T1 lines, are widely accessible, budget-friendly for most small and medium-sized businesses, and come with various options like PBX telephone lines, dedicated internet, point-to-point electronic data interchange, and Integrated T1 (voice and data combined). The main issue with T1 service is the possibility of outgrowing its capacity.

T1 connections offer 1.5 Mbps full-duplex bandwidth, also known as symmetrical, for internet service, providing 1.5 Mbps in both directions. Fractional T1 service is available for those who don’t require the full 1.5 Mbps. However, what if your needs exceed this capacity?

T1 service is suitable for most point-of-sale systems, telephone systems, and internet needs of small to some medium-sized businesses. Larger bandwidths become necessary when business operations expand or the user count surpasses a dozen or two. Applications that demand high throughput, such as CAD drawing transfers, movie production, television program distribution, medical data transmission, and enterprise VoIP, also require larger bandwidths.

The next level up is the T3 line, also called DS3 service. Contrary to what its name might suggest, T3 does not offer three times the capacity of T1; instead, it boasts 28 times the capacity, delivering 45 Mbps. The cost is significantly higher due to the increased bandwidth and the different technology required for T3 line provisioning. DS3 service is typically delivered over fiber optic cables, unlike T1, which utilizes common twisted-pair copper wires. However, in some situations, particularly within a carrier’s facility, T3 can be provisioned over coaxial cable.

T3 possesses sufficient bandwidth to accommodate numerous internet service providers or off-site backup requirements of corporations. It’s commonly employed by educational institutions to provide internet access to both faculty and students. A single T3 line can handle up to 672 concurrent telephone calls or carry two channels of HDTV programming using MPEG-2 compression. While this bandwidth is substantial, what if your needs or budget don’t require that much?

For bandwidth requirements between 1.5 Mbps and 45 Mbps, fractional DS3 is the answer. Fractional DS3 is available in various bandwidth increments to match your application’s needs, including 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 Mbps, and more. Similar to other WAN bandwidth options, the monthly cost is determined by the bandwidth you utilize.

There are two primary methods for implementing fractional DS3 service. One approach involves using a coaxial T3 line or DS3 over fiber optic cable and then throttling the bandwidth down to the desired fraction of the full 45 Mbps DS3 limit. This method is effective if provisioning coaxial or fiber optic cable to your location is feasible. Another option is bonding multiple T1 lines to achieve multiples of 1.5 Mbps, such as 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, or 9 Mbps. While each T1 line requires a pair of copper telephone wires, even remote business locations often have bundled cables containing numerous available pairs.

Another service worth noting is WAN Ethernet. You’re likely familiar with Ethernet in your local area network; now, it’s widely available for connections that extend beyond your premises. Operating at 10 Mbps, Ethernet falls under the fractional DS3 service category. In practice, Ethernet service can be delivered over a TDM (time division multiplexing) line like T3 or on a native IP network, providing an end-to-end Ethernet connection.

If your application demands higher bandwidth at a competitive price, our team of experts can help you find the optimal bandwidth solution in the right format and at the best possible price for your business. Share your requirements with us, and we’ll promptly assist you.