T1 Vs. Ethernet Broadband Choices for Businesses

The reason businesses use T1 lines vs. Ethernet (Fast, Metro or Gigabit) is because of the differences between these two services. Fast Ethernet refers to the internal network traffic whereas a T1 line is an external to internal network connection. While it may be true that many companies are offering options like fiber to the home, which offer speeds significantly faster than T1 lines, T1 (and its siblings like DS3) still offers many advantages.

The following are advantages of deploying a T1 line over Ethernet: 

1. Dedicated - A T1 line is dedicated, while your home network is shared, meaning that depending on the data usage in your area, your speed will fluctuate. For a home user, this is a non-issue, but for a business where servers are mission-critical, you cannot have insufficient bandwidth because there are too many people torrenting in your neighborhood. T1 lines provide dedicated access and often have a higher priority when it comes to uptime and maintenance.

2. Technology Limitations - Ethernet through CAT cable has a limit of 100 meters (328FT). T1 lines can expand further. That's why ISPs can't hook your house up with CAT cable. It's too far.

3. Cheaper - In general, a T1 line is about half the cost of an Ethernet line, but this is only a generalization and it all depends on the location of the network being set up. 

It's also important to know there are differences between a T1 line and Ethernet services. A T1 voice and data line is a form of internet connection while Fast Ethernet is the cabling they used in LAN (Local Area Network) environments, making them more speedy and reliable.

In short, there are many reasons why businesses use T1 for their Internet, but this really is in no way comparable to Fast Ethernet. Your computer's network card is designed to handle more requests than just the Internet. For example, if you are streaming video from a server on your network, you need significantly more bandwidth than 1 Mbps which is plenty sufficient for anything Internet.

On a future note, some ISPs are beginning to use CAT cable to hook directly into your house. This technology is called Metro Ethernet. Look it up if you want to learn more.

This article isn't an all-encompassing discussion of the advantages of T1 over Ethernet, but merely a "scratching of the surface" look at what to think about when deciding which service is right for you business' voice and data network.

Generally speaking, any business looking into what network technology makes the most business sense for their employees, business suites, and conference activities needs to do their homework and not jump without a thorough analysis. For help with that assessment, I strongly suggest taking advantage of the no cost research and support available through USaveTelecom.com.