The Secrets of Fractional T1
If you can not afford a full T1 line, you need to consider a fractional T1 line instead. Why not get all the extra advantages of T1 even if you’re not in a market for a complete T1? A significant number of customers consider the biggest factor in their decision making 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 Prince George, however it is not intended to handle mission-critical applications or large numbers of users as are T1 connections.
A disadvantage with fractional T1 connections is the cost. Despite the fact that you don’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 fee schedule of T1 pricing. A T1 line is established by providing a "loop" or wire from the user's premises 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 provided by the local phone company. Once the connection reaches the CO it can tie into the carrier’s network and reach 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 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 expect it to be, this may still put a fractional T1 within your budget and be a great way to get dedicated service into your building. Once you have fractional service, migrating to full service is simple. 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 important 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 query 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 can be thought of as critical. An important connection can be viewed much like a lifeline, without which your business would be in trouble.
