T1 Internet Access
for Dummies
Written by -
Wyman Little, Staff Writer
'The
t1 internet
access has been around for over 40 years but never have
there been so many "flavors" available. The number of providers
has jumped since deregulation in 1996 from a few dozen to several
thousand. As the telecom shakedown that began in 2001 continues
many of these comapnies are trying to stay afloat by capturing as
many customers as possible with inexpensive products they claim
to be T1. Don't be fooled! Many
of the desperate companies are putting together inferior products
they claim are T1 products. Be leary of products with the funny
titles like "burstable" and "reach". These products are oversubscribed
much like a DSL product. This means the provider put's a singled
T1 connnection in a CO (Central Office) and sells T1 connections
to 3 or 4 customers hoping they don't all use the service at the
same time. True T1 access means dedicated access to the internet
and you always have access to 1.54Mbps.
Make sure your T1 product is a "clearchannel"
product and is not shared with other users. Also be sure you have
an SLA or Service Level Agreement from your provider. A SLA will
specify the access you will receive and the penaly the service
provider will pay if they do not provide such service. If you
need help establishing the proper SLA seek the help of a professional
if you don't have one in house. It's much better to pay a small
fee up front than to enter a long term contract with an inferior
carrier. You can also get professional assistance free of charge
by simply contacting one fo the many T1 brokers on the internet.
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