How to find the best T1 Service Provider

There are more than a few considerations when choosing a T1 Service Provider. A T1 Internet connection (frequently referred to as DS1) is the most universally used high speed digital transmission line for small to medium-sized businesses (SMB) in the United States. The bandwidth of a T1 is 1.544 Mbps for both uplink and downlink.

The first consideration is what services are needed and why. Many companies or individuals are seeking faster Internet service. Others may be limited in the amount of data allowable per month by their current provider. This is especially true with satellite Internet service providers.
Second, take into account which capabilities would be of most gain for your needs. It may be surprising to some, but a T1 line can usually provide data service, voice service, or both. It is valuable to consider how many users need to supported and how many phone lines are in use simultaneously. Also the types of traffic sent over the Internet and/or the number and duration of phone calls made are important factors. And if needing higher bandwidth applications including voice over IP (VOIP) or remote access to company or Internet resources using graphical interfaces, a T1 or even multiple T1's may be required. Can the T1 service provider support these needs adequately?

Another factor is security. If numerous locations need to be serviced, what network design would be most advantageous? In some cases a private network would be best. Security technology or private lines may be used to create either "real" or "virtual" private networks between a company's locations. In a virtual private network (VPN), it might be possible, by using a single vendor's backbone, to keep all traffic off the public Internet.

Most companies or individuals looking for a T1 service provider are experiencing either slow or unreliable Internet service. In either case the present Internet service provider (ISP) may be providing inadequate service Normally, a T1 service provider will provide a service level agreement (SLA), with certain data rates, latency, and reliability.

For instance, many DSL providers will be able to offer an upgrade to a T1. This could be important if there is time remaining on an existing service contract for DSL or cable. Of the major DSL providers, including AT&T, Verizon and Qwest, this may be a consideration, although major vendors' T1 pricing is usually not as competitive as lesser know companies. There are many little known T1 providers that provide identical or superior service as well known larger companies.

Some SMBs by now have a T1 for either data service or voice or possibly both. Have the incumbant's SLAs been adhered to? How has the vendor supported or fixed problems on their own and kept all parties notified of down time? If selecting a different vendor, how is the new vendor's SLA distinctive or better?

For the upgraded levels of service, the pricing goes up greatly, over DSL, cable or satellite Internet service providers. For instance, current DSL or cable pricing starts as low as $12.95 per month. T1 service providers usually charge about $400 per month on average. In NFL cities, the rates can be as low as around $250 as of this writing. Prices continue to decrease annually as competition improves.

There are many factors to be concerned about when selecting the best T1 Service Provider. A telecommunications broker can advise which T1 provider is best according to individual company requirements, as well help with the implementation process.

Jim Green owns a Telecommunications Brokerage and advises individuals and SMB's on the best T1 Service Provider to meet their needs.