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 benefits of T1 even if you’re not seeking for a complete T1? For many people the biggest factor in their choice is reliability. You should consider it too if reliability is vital 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 Grand Prairie, however it is not intended to handle commercial applications or large numbers of users as are T1 connections.
One disadvantage with fractional T1 service is the cost. Even though you won'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 structure of T1 pricing. A T1 connection is established by providing 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 reach any destination. This loop is charged in full whether you use a part of the available bandwidth or the full 1.5Mbps and therefore your price 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 building. Once you have fractional service, upgrading 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 best for you, but if you are supporting critical services, think about reliability. Reliability becomes important when customers or employees need to use 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 connection 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 thought of like a lifeline, without which your business would be negatively impacted.
