When you require over a Gigabit of bandwidth, fiber is the only option. But what about less demanding situations, needing between 1 Mbps and 100 Mbps? In this range, twisted pair copper, coaxial cable, and fiber optics all become possibilities. So what is the optimal choice today?

The Importance of Bandwidth Choice

Choosing the right bandwidth connection might seem crucial, but relax. When you opt for dedicated Internet access or point-to-point private lines, performance between options is fairly similar. The main differences lie in availability and price.

Dedicated vs Shared Bandwidth

It’s crucial to understand the significant difference between dedicated and shared bandwidth. Business cable broadband offers a lot of bandwidth, but upload and download speeds differ, and you’re sharing the available bandwidth with others. Your portion fluctuates constantly. However, getting 10 or 100 times the download bandwidth at a comparable price is tempting. If it suits your requirements, it can be a wise choice.

T1 vs EoC

T1 lines, offering a stable 1.5 Mbps symmetrical circuit with low latency, jitter, and packet loss, have long been the starting point for business bandwidth. They also boast excellent availability and significantly reduced prices in recent years. The only downside is the bandwidth. While 1.5 Mbps was once decent, it’s barely sufficient today.

T1 lines can be combined to achieve higher bandwidth. Two lines provide 3 Mbps, and more lines increase it to 10 or 12 Mbps. This is still suitable for many, but the cost escalates with increasing bandwidth.

Ethernet over Copper (EoC) is a competing technology using the same twisted pair copper but typically offering higher bandwidth. EoC starts at around 3 Mbps and easily reaches 10 or 15 Mbps. While maximum bandwidth decreases with distance from the provider, closer locations can achieve 25, 30, or even 50 Mbps.

Comparing costs, EoC is more cost-effective for comparable service quality. When available, it can halve your bandwidth expenses for symmetrical, dedicated private lines or Internet access. Higher bandwidth translates to greater savings.

T1 or EoC vs DS3

Upgrading from T1 traditionally meant moving to DS3, a jump from 1.5 Mbps (or 12 Mbps bonded) to 45 Mbps. Fractional DS3, offering intermediate bandwidth choices, is available in some areas.

However, DS3 isn’t entirely copper-based. While the connection to your equipment uses coaxial cables, most of the distance to the carrier utilizes SONET fiber, usually OC3. This means DS3 availability depends on existing fiber infrastructure.

Today, upgrading from T1 often leads to Ethernet over Copper. DS3 is possible, but comparing costs at your location is essential. All these technologies deliver dependable, high-performance connections.

Ethernet over Fiber

Fiber optic service used to mean SONET, the traditional telecom standard, with service levels of OC-3, OC-12, and OC-48. Though reliable, it’s not easily upgradable and can be expensive compared to modern options.

The current gold standard is Ethernet over Fiber. Most new network services are designed around Ethernet for several key reasons:

First, it integrates easily with your existing network. Ethernet connects seamlessly to other Ethernet devices and enables additional services like layer 2 switched LAN-to-LAN connections.

Second, Carrier Ethernet is designed for scalability. Unlike fixed service levels, you can order almost any bandwidth increment. Increasing bandwidth later is as easy as contacting your provider or, in some instances, adjusting it yourself online.

Third is cost-effectiveness. Ethernet over Fiber underpins many new service providers with regional, national, and international reach. Even large legacy carriers are shifting towards packet-switching technology (Ethernet) as it represents the future of networking. This results in more competitive Fiber Ethernet options and generally lower prices for 10, 100, and 1000 Mbps services. Even 10 Gbps is becoming more affordable for demanding applications.

Making the Right Bandwidth Choice

As with any business decision, gather comprehensive information and quotes from multiple providers. You can accomplish this efficiently with a single inquiry to obtain competitive bandwidth service quotes and expert recommendations.