| The t1 line is a digital transmission service that can be | | | | people accessing the internet or use video on |
| used for carrying voice and/or data. A T1 connection | | | | demand you should consider T1 access. While it is |
| is sometimes referred to as a "dedicated service" as | | | | more expensive that DSL, T1 access is made to |
| the service is delivered to and from the customer | | | | support the above applications. |
| premise from the CO (Central Office) without | | | | While many people predicted the end of price erosion |
| combining it with other traffic. A T1 connection is | | | | for a T1 internet connection it continues to fall. |
| established by providing a "loop" or wire from the | | | | Service providers are up against stiffer competition |
| users premises to the CO where the service provider | | | | and are desperate for new customers to fill their |
| has equipment. Part of the cost of a T1 is the "loop | | | | pipes and turn a profit. Are you ready to negotiate |
| charge" or the monthly rental fee for the wire that is | | | | for a rock bottom price? Before you do, consider a |
| rented from the local phone company. Once the | | | | few of the reasons for the drop in price on T1 |
| connection reaches the CO it can access the carriers | | | | bandwidth. |
| network and reach any destination. | | | | T1 bandwidth pricing has come down as companies |
| T-1 provides high speed, point-to-point digital | | | | have gone out of business and the remaining large |
| transmission line (up to 1.544 Mbps). This can be used | | | | number of telecommunications companies have |
| as a single high-speed data channel or it can be split | | | | begun fighting for a place in an ever smaller market. |
| into 24 channels and allocated to either voice or data | | | | While many service providers did have room to lose |
| applications. It is widely deployed and readily available | | | | margin, many have come dangerously close to the |
| in most regions and although the service is not | | | | edge of selling circuits at a loss and many have gone |
| diminished by distance from the CO, the price is | | | | beyond this point. It seems that in the race to the |
| sensitive to distance. This is due to the rental of the | | | | bottom many providers failed to learn the lesson that |
| loop from the LEC (Local Exchange Carrier). T1 is | | | | selling at a loss does not create a long lasting and |
| currently the most common way that large | | | | healthy company no matter how many circuits or |
| companies connect their LAN to the rest of the | | | | widgets you sell. Many companies selling at a loss |
| world. | | | | have already been in bankruptcy and look like they |
| Are you ready for T1 service? You may be ready if | | | | will repeat this exercise as they did not learn from |
| you have critical services that need a reliable | | | | their first go around. So, solvency of the T1 internet |
| connection to the internet. If you run ASP services, | | | | service provider should be a consideration when |
| host e-mail servers or web servers, have over 20 | | | | looking at great bargains. |