What Is T1 Line Internet?
Most people working for an extended period of time around the Internet have heard the term "T1 circuit" and interpreted it to mean that it was a fast connection to the Web. It is much more than that. It is, and has been, one of the prime workhorses of the communications industry since the 1960s---well before today's Internet came into being.
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A Little Background
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The T1 circuit can be a copper or fiber-optic two-way conduit running from Point A to Point B, and it is just that---an electronic conduit capable of transporting about 1.54 megabits of data per second. That data can be anything from Internet traffic to up to 24 regular analog telephone lines.
When the Internet went into the private sector, Internet service providers (ISPs) primarily used T1 circuits to connect to various "backbone" services, which are the superhighways of the Internet.
There is a difference between the T1 circuit itself and the Internet. ISPs buy what are called "local loops" of T1 circuits from telephone companies or other communications providers to their places of business. ISPs then purchase wholesale connections to the Internet that are transported on T1s.
How Is a T1 Used?
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Once a T1 circuit delivers Internet connectivity to an ISP, the company integrates the circuit into a series of routers and switches, allowing it to create accounts or groups of accounts to which an individual Internet address is assigned (commonly called an IP address). When client computers log into their ISP, they are assigned an IP address and then are connected to the Internet through the T1.
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What's The Big Deal About A T1 Circuit?
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T1 circuits, whether used by ISPs, companies or individuals, are much more expensive than most consumer Internet connections because they offer guaranteed terms of service, meaning the providers promise that their circuit will maintain a specific speed and "up-time" or they will face financial penalties. These circuits are not shared with others.
How to Get a T1 Circuit
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Today, there are several methods to order Internet T1 circuits, and most experts suggest that consumers allow their provider to make all the arrangements. This is because wiring or fiber-optic paths have to be purchased from local telephone companies or third parties and it can be a nightmare for someone not familiar with the ordering and permitting.
All major phone companies offer the service, but third parties such as DSL Extreme and even some large ISPs are in this business.
Finally, T1 customers can expect superior service because their circuits are monitored 24 hours a day by providers in areas called network operating centers, and most offer circuit redundancy. That means if the ISP loses connectivity with one Internet backbone provider, the providers have an alternate source so customers have no down time. Plus, if help is needed, someone is always there to immediately work on fixing any issues.
T1s Are More than Speed
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T1 users demand more than speed from their service because they often are mission-critical companies serving other users who depend on them to stay connected to the Internet lifeline.
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