| T1 lines have been steadily growing in popularity over | | | | Fractional T1 |
| the past few years. In fact, households, businesses, | | | | Fractional T1 lines use the same technology, but use |
| and organizations using T1 have grown by 15% | | | | only a partial bit of a full T1 line. Like full T1 lines, these |
| annually for the past decade. However, many are not | | | | fractional lines can be used to provide Internet, |
| familiar with the way T1 works, and especially what | | | | networking, and voice services. |
| the difference is between full and fractional T1 lines. | | | | Fractional T1 lines are available in nearly any factor of |
| Full T1 Lines | | | | the full T1 24 channel circuit. For example, the most |
| Full T1 is a term used to describe a | | | | common type of fractional T1 is a 12 channel |
| telecommunications circuit that provides 1.54 megabits | | | | connection, which provides 768 Kbps transfer rate. |
| per second (Mbps) of high speed Internet access, | | | | Since each individual channel provides 64Kbps, many |
| which is the most common type of T1. T1 lines are also | | | | connection speeds are available. |
| commonly used to carry telephone lines and VOIP | | | | Since full T1 lines have become more affordable, the |
| calls. | | | | use of fractional T1 lines has decreased, as people opt |
| A T1 line consists of 24 channels that transmit data at | | | | for just a full T1 connection. Fractional lines are less |
| 64 Kbps each, therefore giving a full T1 line the | | | | cost-effective than they were when they were more |
| capacity to transmit 1.54 Mbps of data synchronously | | | | commonly used. |
| (both incoming and outgoing). Alternatively, the T1 line | | | | Integrated T1 |
| can be used to provide a location with 24 separate | | | | T1 is a becoming a popular solution for many |
| telephone lines. | | | | businesses due to its ability to suited to specific uses. |
| Nearly all office-based and retail businesses today | | | | One T1 line can provide local, long-distance, and |
| require some type of Internet access in order to | | | | bandwidth all on a single connection. For example, a full |
| perform daily operations. The advantage to using a T1 | | | | T1 line call be used to provide 12 telephone lines, and |
| line is that these lines are "leased" by the company, in | | | | 768 Kbps data transfer at 64Kbps per remaining |
| essence reserving the connection for them only, and | | | | channel (12). Consolidating telephone and Internet |
| guaranteeing necessary bandwidth for the users. Full | | | | service with one T1 line can be a very convenient and |
| T1 lines are ideal for and most commonly used by | | | | cost-effective solution for many small businesses. |
| offices with between 5 and 50 employees. | | | | |