T1 Internet Access for Dummies
This particular T1 Internet Service has long been around for over 4 decades but never have there been so many "flavors" offered. The quantity of vendors has leaped amazingly since deregulation in 1996 from a few dozen to several thousand. As the telecom shakeout that started in 2001 continues most of these businesses are attempting to stay afloat by capturing as many clients as attainable with cheap solutions they claim to be T1. Don't be fooled!
Most of the frantic businesses are putting together substandard solutions they assert are T1 products. Be wary of products with the weird titles similar to "burstable" and "reach". These products are oversubscribed much like a DSL product. This suggests the provider puts a single T1 connection within a CO (Central Office) and provides T1 connections to 3 or 4 clients banking on the fact that individuals don't all use the resource at the same time. True, T1 access means sole access to the web and you always have access to 1.54Mbps.
Be certain your T1 product for Londonderry is really a "clearchannel" item and isn't shared with other clients. Also be sure you have an SLA or Service Level Agreement from your supplier. A SLA will define the access you will get and the penalty the service provider will pay on condition that they do not supply this kind of service. If you need help, establishing the appropriate SLA gives you the help of an expert if you don't have one in house. It's much better to spend a small fee up front than to enter a long term agreement with an inferior provider. You can also get expert help gratis by simply contacting among the many T1 brokers on the Internet.
