Tips on Buying 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 advantages of T1 even if you’re not looking for a complete T1? For many people the largest factor in their choice is reliability. You must consider it too if reliability is vital to the types of software you run over your network connection. If you are now using DSL for your internet connection, you should seriously consider replacing it with fractional T1. DSL is a quick and inexpensive method of acquiring high speed bandwidth in Readington, however it is not intended to support mission-critical applications or large numbers of users as are T1 connections.
A disadvantage with fractional T1 service is the price. Despite the fact that you don’t have a full T1, you will be paying quite a bit more than you did for your DSL connection. This is due to the fee schedule of T1 pricing. A T1 connection is established by installing a "loop" or wire 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 cable that is rented from the local phone company. Once the connection reaches the CO it can access the carrier’s network and communicate with any destination. This loop is paid in full whether you use a part of the available capacity 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 decrease is not what you might wish it to be, this may still put a fractional T1 within your budget and be the best way to get dedicated service into your office. Once you have fractional service, migrating to full service is easy. Fractional service usually 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 depend on your connection for immediate responses. If your clients 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 connections are considered critical. A critical connection can be thought of like a lifeline, without which your business would be in trouble.
