| Many businesses have a need for a high speed | | | | congestion, fiber optics can handle all three media |
| internet connection to maintain their business continuity, | | | | forms and not degrade the speed of transmission. |
| so most businesses have turned to T1 lines. T1 lines | | | | The downfall to fiber optic technology is the fact that it |
| offer bi-directional speeds of 1. 544 Mbps on a | | | | is not available to all areas. Although it is less costly |
| dedicated private line. There are several different | | | | from month to month, the actual cost of roll out to the |
| flavors of T1 lines. A voice T1 line allows for 24 | | | | customer can be rather pricey. |
| channels all dedicated to phone service. An integrated | | | | DSL is another technology to look at and compare to |
| T1 line takes both voice and data bring them together | | | | T1 technology. DSL claims to have to have some of |
| in one T1 line. A bonded T1 line combines several T1 | | | | the fastest speeds out there on the market at a lower |
| lines together into one big dedicated T1 line. | | | | cost. At first glance, DSL lives up to its claim. A closer |
| The cost of utilizing T1 lines is dependent on how many | | | | look does reveal that the claims may not deliver |
| companies are in the surrounding area that are | | | | everything that is being promised. DSL is a shared |
| offering T1 services and the distance of the entire loop | | | | technology, so transfer speeds will vary throughout the |
| that the data has to travel. It is typical for a business to | | | | day. DSL is not bi-directional so the speed will differ |
| pay anywhere from $199 to $775 per month for their | | | | greatly between uploading and downloading. |
| internet connectivity. This type of internet connection | | | | Downloading a file can be as quick as 1.5 Mbps; |
| possesses the ability to grow along with a business. It | | | | however, uploading can go as slow as 256k. DSL also |
| must be noted that it can be rather time consuming to | | | | experiences downtimes of unacceptable lengths of |
| upgrade. | | | | time. |
| With a struggling economy, businesses are looking cut | | | | T1 maybe be a little more costly than fiber or DSL |
| corners where they can. Fiber optic technology is | | | | technology but because if its speed, constant reliability |
| trying to give the older coaxial cabling a run for its | | | | and widespread accessibility a T1 line is often the |
| money. Fiber optics can handle data, voice and video | | | | better buy. |
| traffic with ease. Even during incidents of high traffic | | | | |