T1 vs DSL for Business Broadband
T1 lines set up as T1 Dedicated Internet connections give business
users guaranteed bandwidth of 1.5 Mbps both upload and download,
plus a SLA service level agreement to assure line reliability.
DSL is a "best effort" Internet service that is offered
without any service guarantee on a shared connection. Bandwidth
varies depending on how heavily other businesses are using the
connection.
Reliable Retail Point of Sale
Systems Connectivity
Retail locations, such as grocery stores, quick service restaurants,
and hardware stores need fast, dependable POS bandwidth for credit
card transactions, inventory management, and financial reporting.
T1 lines are ideal for this application, as they are far more
reliable than DSL service.
Medical Imaging Transmission
Medical images, such as those generated by Teleradiology equipment,
have large file sizes due to high resolution. Rapid transmission
between hospitals and medical centers requires high availability,
high bandwidth telecommunication services. For smaller offices
or infrequent use, a T1 data line might easily suffice. For medium
and larger facilities, T3 lines and fiber optic carrier services
are recommended.
T1 Lines are Full Duplex
T1 lines are bidirectional or full duplex. That means that you
can independently upload and download data at up to the full line
rate of 1.5 Mbps simultaneously. LANs that use switched Ethernet
are also full duplex, but LANs that use hubs operate at half-duplex.
A half-duplex network cannot transmit and receive at the same
time, cutting effective bandwidth by up to half.
T-Carriers Offer Digital Telephony
T-Carriers, which include both T1 and T3 lines, offer digital
telephone trunking with multiple phone calls on a single physical
circuit. T1 lines can support up to 24 simultaneous phone calls.
T3 lines have 28 times the bandwidth of T1 lines and can offer
up to 672 simultaneous phone calls for large enterprise or call
center applications.