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.
Reliable Retail Point of Sale
Systems Connectivity
Retail locations, such as grocery stores, quick service restaurants,
and hardware stores need fast, dependable POS bandwidth for credit
card transactions, inventory management, and financial reporting.
T1 lines are ideal for this application, as they are far more
reliable than DSL service.
Medical Imaging Transmission
Medical images, such as those generated by Teleradiology equipment,
have large file sizes due to high resolution. Rapid transmission
between hospitals and medical centers requires high availability,
high bandwidth telecommunication services. For smaller offices
or infrequent use, a T1 data line might easily suffice. For medium
and larger facilities, T3 lines and fiber optic carrier services
are recommended.
Fractional T1 Service as a
Money Saver
Not all businesses need the full 1.5 Mbps of a T1 line, but want
higher availability and the dedicated bandwidth offered by T-carrier
digital service. In many cases, fractional T1 services offers
a fraction of the bandwidth at a lowered monthly lease price.
Fractional T3 service may also be available for bandwidth needs
between 1.5 and 45 Mbps.
Bandwidth to Support Convergence
Convergence means combining or converging voice, data and video
onto a single network. Enterprises usually need to expand their
LAN bandwidth and set up a QoS or Quality of Service priority
system to give priority to real-time streams such as telephone
calls or video conference feeds, which are more sensitive to network
delays than data transfers. Most often, the common protocol for
convergence is IP.