subject: T3 Line Service: Fast Bandwidth Channels For Voice, Data And Video [print this page] T3 Line Service is a perfect match for medium sized companies that have outgrown their T1 capabilities. T3 is a term created by its inventor, Bell Systems, to describe a voice, data or video line that carries digitized information, resembling a telephone line. If you have a hard time deciding between a T1 and a T3 line for your business, the main factors are how much bandwidth do you think you need and how much money will a T3 line cost you.
There are also alternative terms thrown around too, like DS1, DS3 and DS4. Although there are a few differences between the two types of carrier lines, both T lines and DS lines are basically the same. A T1 line is more expensive to install since it requires copper lines but T3 connections use fiber optics, lowering their cost of installation significantly.
In North America, a T3 line is a digital channel carried through fiber optics, which can handle 45 megabits per second or 28 T1 lines. In everyday parlance, T3 is used interchangeably with DS3 since T3 has been more thought of as dealing with voice traffic. A T3 line can carry the equivalent of 28 T1 lines. A typical T3/D3 line will be made of 672 individual channels that are capable of carrying data at 44,736,000 bits per second. Remember that is bit, not byte since a byte is made up of 8 bits.
The T3 line can be easily modified to carry voice and data but it can also carry video which is something to consider if your company does any video conferencing. T3 circuits can provide access to 45 mbps of Internet connectivity. This can be an ideal solution to those companies which have surpassed their T1 lines and need high capacity access.
If your company requires computer access for more than fifty users at a time or needs to run higher bandwidth applications like video conferencing, then your business should have a T3 connection. T3 lines are the most common carrier lines used by most medium sized commercial enterprises. A T3 is also a commercially viable option for those enterprises looking to resell bandwidth to their known customers. Depending on your location and T3 provider, a T3 line can cost between $3,000 and $12,000 a month.
Inn order to secure T3 line service, find a broker website that acts as an intermediary between customers and providers. This way you can get multiple free quotes from several providers and decide which one is the best for you. If your business is situated in a less populated state such as Montana rather than New York, the monthly costs of a T3 line may be several times higher than lines in urbanized areas. Plan ahead.
Finally, when trying to make that decision to get a T1 or a T3 line, look at the size of your operations and predict how the company might expand in the next few years. What will your needs be? For data, voice, Internet access or network connectivity? T3 line service can be more than what some businesses can handle so budget and plan ahead.
