T1 internet service is an early internet service that gives customers basic phone and internet service to a business or home. Many businesses still use T1 service today without really knowing what they’re buying, how fast it is, and what their other options may be. With that in mind, let’s cover what T1 internet is and how fast T1 speeds are.
A T1 internet line is a communications service that uses two twisted pair copper wires to send and receive data or voice traffic. This early form of telecom service was developed by the Bell System to bring connectivity to the majority of businesses.
T1 connection speeds can transmit data at a speed of 1.544 Mbps. This was exceptionally fast compared to standard telephone lines that used a modem at a mere 56 kbps. T1 cable was an important step forward in delivering higher speed connections.
T1 internet service for small business is still utilized today for high-speed data transmission, internet access, and voice. The collection of services a business uses T1 internet for depends on the type of T1 and the configuration.
T1 connectivity can be provisioned as channelized or unchannelized service. When T1 bandwidth is channelized, bandwidth is segmented into 24 channels.
Each channel has a capacity of 64 Kbps. Twenty-three of these channels can support 23 simultaneous voice calls. The 24th channel is reserved for signaling information such as caller ID.
Integrated T1 internet service was created to carry both voice and data traffic simultaneously. Some businesses like the convenience of an integrated T1 since both voice and data services are consolidated with one provider.
The convenience of an integrated circuit, however, comes with a price. By sharing the connection for both voice and data applications, the effective speed of the connection drops significantly. This is because the channels aren’t specifically allocated for either voice or data.
A Data T1 line is also called T1 Internet. This circuit is an unchannelized T1.
T1 internet is configured to transport data only. Because it uses its full capacity for data, 1.544 Mbps is consistently achieved with T1 internet. T1 speeds are higher when you use an unchannelized T1. Typical data passed on Data T1s is internet access, point-to-point data or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).
When businesses require more bandwidth than a single T1 can provide, T1 lines are bonded together so they function as a single circuit. Two T1 lines, for instance, can deliver 3.0 Mbps, four T1 lines deliver 6.0 Mbps, and so on.
T1 internet has been a stable business offering of phone companies for decades. T1 internet providers are a “comfortable” service. T1 line cost is about $200 per month per line, depending on your location T1 internet provider.
While T1 internet may be useful for some businesses, there are many T1 alternatives that provide more affordable bandwidth in conjunction with better performance and more flexibility.
Consider the company that determines 5 Mbps is the right size bandwidth for its needs. Utilizing T1 bandwidth, the IT manager can choose 4.5 Mbps (3 bonded T1s) or 6.0 Mbps (4 bonded T1s). Since companies typically do not want to under-subscribe their bandwidth, most will get 4 bonded T1s, and pay extra for T1 speed they aren’t using. They will also need bonding equipment such as a managed router for the Ethernet hand-off.
Some carriers will provide additional equipment. But many T1 internet providers strive to keep costs down to better compete with the vast array of T1 alternatives, passing on the cost of additional equipment to the customers. This may cause performance to be lackluster. It’s fairly common for a port to go out, resulting in fewer operating T1 lines and less throughput.
If you’re looking for a more reliable high-speed internet service, consider the following high-speed alternatives.
If you prefer more efficient, high-capacity communications, then explore both fixed wireless and fiber internet from EarthLink Business. EarthLink Business delivers dedicated bandwidth that is easily scalable to 10 Gbps or more for businesses across the country.
EarthLink Business is more than just an internet provider—we’re your partner in business. We offer businesses what they need to be successful, including internet, voice, managed IT, and digital marketing.
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