Cable and DSL connections might suffice for an at home business or one with fewer than five employees, however any business larger than that will require a stronger, more reliable connection to the Internet. In order to keep up with the competition, many businesses employ an Internet T1 connection.
The most noticeable different between a business-class Internet T1 connection and a cable or DSL connection is that cable and DSL are shared bandwidth arrangements. This means that the bandwidth you use when employing a cable or DSL connection is transmitted to you from a pool that services several other homes in your area, so if everyone in your neighborhood is online at the same time, your Internet will run much slower.
An Internet T1 connection, on the other hand, is a dedicated connection that is not shared. Since they are devoted solely to your business, T1 lines provide greater consistency and reliability, making them better suited for not only mission-critical tasks, but the deployment of data, voice and video transmissions, including VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) as well.
SLAs, or Service Level Agreements, are another benefit that comes with deploying an Internet T1 connection. In addition to specifying the type of service your provider is offering, SLAs can include anything from expected uptimes, (most leading providers aim for 99.99% uptime) to equipment rentals and resolutions for shortfalls. For example, if your uptime falls below what is outlined on your SLA, then the provider would compensate you for your losses. It is, however, important to note that SLAs vary between providers and the services you choose.
What’s more is that T1 connections are scalable and provide a service that is able to grow with your business. For example, if you run an SMB and your business does not require the power and bandwidth of a full T1 line, you can employ a fractional T1 line that scales down to a size that fits your needs. Likewise, if you demand more than what a single T1 line can offer, you can utilize a bonded T1 line, which joins multiple T1 lines into a single pipe for higher bandwidth.
With the rise of competitive service providers the cost of Internet T1 lines has become increasing affordable. Ultimately the price of your fractional, full, or bonded T1 connection will depend largely upon your location and its proximity to your provider’s CO (Central Office) – the farther away you are from the CO, the higher your costs will be. That being said, your provider might offer you a bundle or package deal that includes cables, routers and other equipment in addition to the T1 line, for a flat monthly fee.
If you’d like to learn more about how a T1 connection can improve your business, give one of our professional account managers a call today!


