T1 Internet Access for Dummies
The T1 Internet Service continues to be around for more than 40 years yet never have there been so many "flavors" available. The number of vendors has leaped amazingly from deregulation in 1996 from a few dozen to several thousand. As the telecom shakeout that started in 2001 continues many of these businesses are attempting to stay afloat by getting as many clients as feasible with low-cost products they assert being T1. Do not be fooled!
Lots of the desperate firms are putting together inferior products they assert are really T1 products. Be wary of products using the funny titles such as "burstable" and "reach". These items are oversubscribed much like a DSL product. This means the provider puts a single T1 connection within a CO (Central Office) and provides T1 connections to 3 or 4 customers banking on the fact that individuals don't all make use of the service simultaneously. True, T1 access implies sole access to the web and you invariably have access to 1.54Mbps.
Make certain the T1 service in San Juan is a "clearchannel" item and is not shared with other clients. Also be sure you have a powerful SLA or Service Level Agreement from your supplier. A SLA will define the access you can get and the penalty the service company will pay if they don't provide this kind of service. If you need assistance, establishing the correct SLA gives you the help of a professional if you don't have one in house. It's much better to pay a small fee up front than to enter a long term contract with an inferior carrier. You can definitely get expert help gratis by just contacting among the many T1 brokers on the Internet.
