The Secrets of Fractional T1
If a full T1 isn't in your budget, you need to consider a fractional T1 line instead. Why not get all the extra benefits of T1 even if you’re not seeking for a full T1? For many people the biggest factor in their decision making is reliability. You should think about it too if reliability is critical to the applications you run over your network connection. If you are currently using DSL for your internet connection, you must think about replacing it with fractional T1. DSL is a quick and cost effective method of acquiring high speed bandwidth in Southern Pines, however it is not intended to handle commercial applications or large numbers of users as are T1 connections.
A disadvantage with fractional T1 connections is the price. Even though you won't have a full T1, you wind up paying quite a bit more than you did for your DSL connection. This is due to the structure of T1 pricing. A T1 connection is established by installing a "loop" or cable from the user's building to the CO where the service provider has equipment. Part of the cost of a T1 is the "loop charge" or the monthly rental fee for the wire that is provided by the local phone company. Once the line gets to the CO it can tie into the carrier’s network and reach any destination. This loop is paid in full whether you use a fraction of the available bandwidth or the full 1.5Mbps and therefore your cost for a 768Kbps fractional T1 connection will never be half the price of a 1.5mbps full T1 connection.
Although the price reduction is not what you might expect it to be, this may still put a fractional T1 within your budget and be the best way to get dedicated service into your building. Once you have fractional service, migrating to full service is simple. Fractional service typically comes in 256Kbps increments from 256Kbps all the way to a full T1 at 1.5Mbps. Find the service that's right for you, but if you are supporting critical services, think about reliability. Reliability becomes critical when customers or employees need to use your connection for immediate responses. If your customers use your connection to access your databases or your server or the Internet, then reliability of your network is vital. If your employees depend on your connections because you host the e-mail server in house or host web servers or ASP type products, your communication lines can be thought of as critical. An important connection can be viewed much like a lifeline, without which your company would be in trouble.
