T1 vs DSL for Business Broadband
T1 lines set up as T1 Dedicated Internet connections give business
users guaranteed bandwidth of 1.5 Mbps both upload and download,
plus a SLA service level agreement to assure line reliability.
DSL is a "best effort" Internet service that is offered
without any service guarantee on a shared connection. Bandwidth
varies depending on how heavily other businesses are using the
connection.
Bonding T1 Lines for Higher
Bandwidth
While a standard T1 line provides 1.5 Mbps upload and download
bandwidth, lines can be bonded to create total bandwidths of 3
Mbps, 4.5 Mbps, 6 Mbps, 7.5 Mbps, 9 Mbps, 10.5 Mbps and 12 Mbps.
An advantage T1 lines have over fiber optic connections is that
they are available nearly everywhere without special construction.
What Are Pseudowires?
A pseudowire is a virtual "circuit" that emulates a
traditional digital telecom service but on a packet switched network.
MPLS networks are especially suitable for pseudowires. By using
a pseudowire circuit, you can get the point to point connectivity
you desire without having to re-engineer your facilities to accommodate
a different protocol network.
T1 and T3 Lines for Wireless
Backhaul
A WISP or Wireless Internet Service Provider needs a way to connect
the Internet to the tower radios. T1 lines and bonded T1 lines
are widely used for this purpose, as well as cellular tower backhaul,
because of their almost universal availability. T3 lines offer
28x the bandwidth of T1 lines but are typically more available
in larger metropolitan areas.
How do T1 and DS1 differ?
In general conversation, T1 and DS1 refer to the same thing. But
strictly speaking, T1 refers to a physical line circuit consisting
of 2 pair of copper wires with strict line signal specifications.
DS1 stands for Digital Signal level 1. DS1 is the service level
you get on a T1 line. However, DS1 also is part of the digital
signal hierarchy used in T3 lines and SONET fiber optic carriers.