| T1 Lines have been the primary source of mission | | | | important to figure out the maximum number of |
| critical bandwidth for companies of all sizes for | | | | simultaneous calls that could be placed at any |
| nearly 20 years. With so much history, a basic | | | | given time. Having too few telephone lines causes |
| understanding of the T1 line should be common | | | | costs more in a loss of productivity than it would |
| knowledge among business owners who are | | | | cost to simply add more phone lines to keep your |
| looking for reliable bandwidth for Internet access, | | | | employees busy. This is why it is important to |
| data communications, or multiple telephone lines. | | | | figure out the proper balance of telephone lines |
| However, it was not until the late 1990s that the | | | | vs. DID numbers. The cost of a PRI is also |
| market for T1 lines became very competitive and | | | | typically lower than other forms of telephone |
| prices began falling to more reasonable levels, | | | | service (except Voice Over IP in some |
| causing the demand to rise sharply among small | | | | applications), with actual pricing depending on the |
| and medium sized businesses. Even today most | | | | Provider of the service and your business location. |
| small business owners and managers still do not | | | | Between the features, price, and quality of a PRI, |
| know how a standard T1 line works or what it is | | | | it is the primary choice for businesses large |
| capable of providing. | | | | enough to take advantage of it's multiline |
| Each section below includes a description a T1 line | | | | functionality and benefits. |
| solution and an example of what problems you | | | | Integrated T1 Line: |
| could solve for your business with the solution | | | | An Integrated T1 Line is one of the most popular |
| described. There are 7 basic types of T1's | | | | T1 solutions for small businesses because it |
| explained, which include Full T1, Fractional, Voice | | | | provides local telephone service, long distance, and |
| (standard), PRI, Integrated Voice and Data, Voice | | | | bandwidth all on a single connection and a single bill. |
| Over IP(hosted), and Point-to-Point T1's. | | | | The consolidation of these services with one |
| Full T1 Line: | | | | company is more convenient and more cost |
| "Full T1 Line" is a term typically used to describe a | | | | effective than purchasing them from separate |
| circuit that provides 1.5 megabits per second of | | | | providers. Just as a Fractional T1 line only turns on |
| high speed Internet access, which is the most | | | | a portion of a T1 Line for Internet access, special |
| common type of T1. A Full T1 can also be used | | | | equipment allows some of the T1 channels to be |
| to carry telephone lines and/or VoIP calls, both of | | | | allocated for telephone lines, while others are used |
| which are covered within the "Voice", "PRI" and | | | | for data transmission and Internet access. For |
| Voice Over IP sections here. Nearly all | | | | example, a Full Integrated T1 line could be divided |
| office-based and modern retail businesses require | | | | in half using special equipment, providing 12 high |
| some type of Internet access in order to | | | | quality telephone lines and using the other 12 |
| perform their daily operations, and many have | | | | channels for 768k of bandwidth. Fractional |
| mission critical Internet needs that allow them to | | | | Integrated T1 lines are also available, but most |
| continue business operations at all. There are | | | | companies have minimum levels such as 4 phone |
| many choices to fulfill this need for Internet | | | | lines and 512k of Internet access, which only uses |
| access, including Dial-up connections, ISDN, DSL, | | | | 12 channels combined. Many offers even include |
| Cable, Wireless applications, a T1 Line, or | | | | "blocks" of free long distance, usually based on |
| something larger like a DS3 or OC-3 (far less | | | | the number of telephone lines being installed. A |
| common due to high cost). | | | | typical offer might include 6 phone lines(6 |
| A T1 Line consists of 24 channels that transmit | | | | channels), 512k (8 channels), and 600 minutes of |
| data at 64Kbps each, therefore giving a Full T1 | | | | free LD each month (100 per telephone line). This |
| Line the capacity to transmit 1.54Mbps of data | | | | entire circuit could have a total cost as low as |
| synchronously (upstream and downstream). Using | | | | $400 to $500 per month, which is a tremendous |
| today's standard email applications and common | | | | "all inclusive" bargain for small businesses. This is a |
| Internet searching, this amount of bandwidth could | | | | perfect total solution for literally thousands, if not |
| support anywhere from 1 to approximately 75 | | | | millions, of small companies across the nation. One |
| users depending on their needs, preferences, and | | | | thing to keep in mind is that not all providers can |
| the company's budget. Most commonly Full T1 | | | | offer Integrated T1 Lines, so the ones that do |
| Lines are used in offices with 5 to 50 employees. | | | | typically focus a great deal of their sales efforts |
| A T1 circuit provides the most reliable bandwidth | | | | on this service. |
| available when leased from a high quality T1 | | | | Voice Over IP (VoIP): |
| Provider, which is why businesses are willing to | | | | Voice Over IP is considered to be the "next big |
| pay more for a T1 than for other services like | | | | thing" in the telecommunications industry. It has |
| DSL or Cable. In some applications, a T1 can save | | | | already begun the powerful growth that has been |
| money for a company who uses a less reliable | | | | expected for many years by experts and early |
| bandwidth connection. Since multiple services can | | | | adopters. Although VoIP services can and will be |
| be combined on a single T1, cost efficient | | | | used across all types of high bandwidth |
| solutions are often available if you know what | | | | connections, the business class services are |
| service to ask for (see "Integrated T1" below) | | | | primarily being offered on T1 lines. This is |
| and which providers offer those services in your | | | | extremely important in the world of bandwidth |
| area. | | | | and telecommunications, because it again validates |
| Internet T1 pricing starts at approximately $400 | | | | the T1 line as the most cost efficient delivery |
| per month, but can cost more than $1000 per | | | | method of the most reliable bandwidth. In other |
| month if the location of the installation requires a | | | | words, a company cannot afford to trust a |
| long loop to connect to the network of your local | | | | volatile Internet connection like DSL or Cable to |
| phone company to the network of the T1 | | | | carry VOIP because they risk losing 100% of |
| provider. This is usually only the case in very small | | | | their communication capabilities. |
| towns or rural areas where facilities are less | | | | Voice over IP is revolutionizing telecommunications |
| dense. Most metropolitan areas have many | | | | because it is cheaper for the user and the |
| choices of T1 providers, at least one of which will | | | | infrastructure requirements are better for the |
| usually be closer and cheaper than the rest. Pricing | | | | providers. Rather than requiring a telephone line |
| will fluctuate dramatically depending on the | | | | and all of the switching on the back end to |
| Provider and the location of your business, which | | | | complete a call, VoIP uses equipment to break |
| is why it is sometimes safer and easier to use an | | | | down a telephone call into packets of data, then |
| experienced Telecom Consultant such as to guide | | | | sends those packets across the internet to be |
| you in finding the best solution. For example some | | | | decoded where the receiver answers the call. This |
| companies that do not require much bandwidth or | | | | dramatically reduces the bandwidth that is |
| have a small budget might need to opt for a | | | | necessary to complete a call because it eliminates |
| Fractional T1 Line. | | | | "dead" times when no one is speaking into the |
| Fractional T1 Line: | | | | receiver. Since the calls also bypass the normal |
| A Fractional T1 line typically describes an Internet | | | | telephone switching network, they also escape |
| circuit that uses a "piece" or a "fraction" of a Full | | | | FCC charges (for now). Every major Provider and |
| T1. Fractional T1's are also used for telephone lines | | | | most small providers are starting to offer |
| or even integrated T1's, but less often then for | | | | residential and business class VoIP services. If |
| Internet access. A Fractional T1 can be sold in | | | | you're in the market for a business VoIP solution |
| nearly any fraction of a 24 channel, 1.54Mbps | | | | try the free consulting services of |
| circuit. For example, out of the 24 channels in a | | | | Point to Point T1: |
| Full T1 line, 12 channels might be used in a | | | | Point to point T1 lines do not provide T1 Internet |
| Fractional T1 to provide a 768k connection, which | | | | access or telephone lines, but act as a "transport" |
| is half of 1.54Mbps. Other Fractional sizes include | | | | for either or both. A point to point T1, often |
| 1.1Mbps, 512k, 384k, 256, 128k, and even 64k, | | | | referred to as a "P2P", provides a very secure |
| although the smaller sizes are very uncommon. | | | | and reliable connection, usually from a corporate |
| As T1 Providers have become more competitive, | | | | office to any number of satellite offices. Although |
| prices on Full T1s have come down so much that | | | | a P2P does not actually "provide" Internet access |
| Fractional T1s have become less cost effective. | | | | or phone lines, corporations use P2P T1s to share |
| For example, a Fractional T1 of 768k carries only | | | | these services. For example, a company's home |
| half of the bandwidth of a Full T1, but usually | | | | office in Los Angeles might have hundreds of |
| saves only 5% to 15% of the price of a Full T1. | | | | telephone lines and huge Internet access pipes |
| This doesn't make much sense in applications | | | | installed at one location to get the best available |
| where only 1 or 2 T1 lines are needed, unless the | | | | rates. This company can use a P2P T1 to |
| budget is extremely tight. However, this can add | | | | transmit any combination of telephone lines, |
| up to significant savings when using hundreds of | | | | Internet access, and data between offices to |
| T1's across a large company's multi-location VPN | | | | share software systems, and provide in-office |
| or frame relay network. | | | | dialing from locations across the country! The |
| Voice T1: | | | | variables are endless because there are no |
| Voice and PRI T1 lines are extremely common | | | | restrictions on how a point to point T1 can be |
| among businesses and call centers with multiple | | | | used, assuming you have the right equipment and |
| telephone lines and large call volumes. They are | | | | a source at one end of the P2P. This can be a |
| far less expensive and more efficient than | | | | great way to save money, because a satellite or |
| installing dozens of POTS (plain old telephone | | | | branch office might have to pay huge prices to |
| service) lines. Each of the 24 channels on a T1 line | | | | have telephone and bandwidth services installed |
| is versatile, allowing it to be used for either | | | | directly, whereas the home office can get better |
| bandwidth or for a single telephone line. So, a pure | | | | rates because of bulk buying and location. |
| Voice T1 line will have 24 telephone lines with | | | | Although it can sometimes be used to save |
| reliable service, good reception, good long distance | | | | money, a P2P network is usually not very cost |
| rates (depending on the carrier), and a wide | | | | efficient compared to other options. Frame Relay |
| selection of calling features. Voice T1 lines use | | | | and VPN (Virtual Private Network) are other |
| digital or analog transmission, so it is an excellent | | | | options to consider depending on a company's |
| choice in situations where a company's equipment | | | | needs and business applications. The primary |
| does not allow for the use of a PRI line, which is | | | | advantage of a P2P line is that it is truly private, |
| always digital. | | | | making it top choice for those demanding a circuit |
| PRI T1: | | | | with a dedicated connection to only their business, |
| A PRI (Primary Rate Interface) line is somewhat | | | | therefore offering the highest security available. |
| different and more popular than a standard Voice | | | | There is no question that the same type of T1 |
| T1 because it is true "digital trunking", which allows | | | | Line that was being used back in 1984 by the US |
| for even more advanced calling features. A PRI | | | | Government and world leading technology |
| line provides 23 telephone lines per T1, because | | | | companies like IBM is still the best source of |
| the 24th channel is used to carry useful data for | | | | reliable bandwidth for all sizes of companies today. |
| signaling and other features like special caller ID | | | | Despite the competition of newer technologies, |
| information called ANI (Automatic Number | | | | price reductions on T1's plus the fact that these |
| Identification). Since the transmission is digital, the | | | | circuits are so trustworthy have allowed the |
| quality of a telephone connection over a PRI line is | | | | number of T1 Lines being used in the United |
| unsurpassed, providing crystal clear reception that | | | | States to continue to grow at a rate of 15% per |
| is noticeable to the user. The use of DID (Digital | | | | year, even in recent years. Since there are so |
| Inward Dial) numbers, and calling features like | | | | many uses for the T1 Line, including the explosion |
| hunting and rolling, allow you to use 23 digital | | | | of new technologies like VoIP, these circuits are |
| telephone lines to provide service to potentially 30 | | | | poised to remain a key ingredient to the success |
| to 40 employees, depending on how often they | | | | of businesses who rely on Internet, |
| will need to use their phone. Instead of guessing | | | | Telecommunications, and Data Connectivity for |
| on the number of DID's to put on a PRI line, it's | | | | years to come. |