Pros and Cons of T1

If you are considering T1 Internet access, you likely would like to examine the pros and cons of this method or system of connecting to the Internet and World Wide Web. Through this article, you will be presented with the pros and cons of using T1 as your means of Internet access.

Understanding T1 -- A Primer

The technical, and widely accepted industry definition of T1 is:

“A dedicated phone connection supporting data rates of 1.544Mbits per second. A T-1 line actually consists of 24individual channels, each of which supports 64Kbits per second. Each 64Kbit/second channel can be configured to carry voice or data traffic. Most telephone companies allow you to buy just some of these individual channels, known as fractional T-1 access.”

In simple terms, a T1 system allows you to have Internet access utilizing a secondary telephone line. In theory, the manner in which the T1 line is set up -- using individual channels to carry data -- allows a person faster Internet access and also permits a person the ability to multi-task while online.

The Pros

On the positive side, when it comes to a T1 system of Internet access, you likely have most of the basic equipment that you will need to accomplish the task. Chances are that you already do have phone service at the site.

Of course, you will have to have a modem that is appropriate to T1 service -- but, these are normally fairly easy to come by. Indeed, most desktops and personal computers include standardized modems which are amenable to T1 service in many instances.

Another positive attribute of T1 Internet access service rests in the fact that it is a fairly fast way of connecting to the Internet. It is not as fast as cable -- but it does operate at speeds that are comparable to what you would find with DSL.

Expense-wise, T1 service normally can be accessed for a reasonable price. While it isn’t the cheapest way of gaining Internet access, T1 service certainly is not the most expensive way of gaining Internet access today.

Finally, T1 service has proven very efficient for businesses and is used with some degree of frequency in business settings. Thus, if you are a business owner, perhaps T1 service is something that you will want to examine -- to see if it might work for your own operations.

The Cons

On the downside, T1 service is not the fastest way to gain Internet access. In addition, some people have suggested that T1 service experiences a higher rate of connectivity problems that does cable or DSL. These experts do note that T1 connectivity issues are not as severe as what can be anticipated with dial up in many instances, however.

Another downside is found in the fact that at this time, because demand for T1 service is being outflanked by DSL and cable -- even in business settings -- it can be more difficult to obtain technical and customer service and support.