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T3 Line Internet Access FAQ
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Written by: Zachary I. Schechter - Sunday, May 20th, 2012
What is a T3 line?
A T3 line is more commonly known today as a DS3 circuit. It is a single wire connection that is the equivalent of 28 T1s and can carry approximately 45 Mbps. A T1 consists of 24 channels, each capable of carrying 64Kbps of data (or 24 TDM voice channels). A T3 can carry up to 672 channels. Nowadays, in most cases it will be run over fiber. However, a copper version is available.
How fast is a T3 Connection compared to a T1 line?
T3 Speed is 28 times faster when fully utilized. A T1 basically runs 1.5 Mbps whereas a T3 (DS3) basically run 45Mbps.
Why upgrade from a Single T1 to T3 Internet Service?
There are 2 possibilities for that. Immediate extreme growth, or lesser growth with an expected need for near future scalability. A T1 is limited to 1.5 Mbps. You can bond T1s together. The current maximum is 8 T1s for a total of 12 Meg. If your needs exceed that and other newer products such as Metro Ethernet are not available, you would have to move to a T3 circuit to receive a single larger pipe. Additionally, you can order a fractional T3 where a full T3 loop is brought in (there is no such thing as a fractional loop), but you only ‘light up’ part of the bandwidth (i.e. only use utilize some of the channels). For example, you can order a 20 Meg fractional T3. This is not always cost effective as a whole (since the circuit wire or ‘loop’ is often the most expensive part and you need to pay for the full loop regardless)… but sometimes it will cost even less than a larger bonded T1 circuit. As such, you can outgrow your T1 circuit. Alternatively, you can expect future growth beyond a T1 and need something in place now that is more scalable. As such, if you need a 6 Meg circuit now… but know that with rather short notice you may need to grow to 20 Meg… then you would likely order a T3 Line. In the T1 scenario, you would have to drop them and get a T3 loop. If you put the T3 Internet loop in at the outset… it is far simpler and quicker to grow the circuit from the original fractional to something higher through the full 45 Mbps since the loop is already in place.
What are typical costs for T3 Service?
They vary significantly from locale to locale. Bandwidth prices these days tends to average around $1,500 - $2,500 a month for the full 45 Meg. However, the loop can run from $600 to $6,000 a month or more depending on distance from the serving POP (Point of Presence) or various other factors. In a typical major metropolitan area, a full 45 Meg T3 Line would run in the $2,500 - $4,000 a month range. Fractional circuits can start at around $1,500 for T3 Pricing.
In conclusion:
Is a T3 Connection right for you? The best option is to find a good agent who can work it through with you. Find a good organization with quoting tools to get a feel for what is available in your area and then an experienced agent or broker behind it to take a look at your specific needs and what is available in your area to help you make an informed decision.
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