Broadband services are available from a large array of providers. There are many types of services out there so deciding on the right product for your business may be difficult.
Broadband is a term that is used to describe high-speed connections for voice or data. Broadband connections allow for large data transfers and the ability to run applications such as streaming video easily.
When choosing an Internet service for your business one consideration is the speed you need. Various services offer different speeds. For example, a T1 is a high-speed digital connection that transmits data at a speed of 1.544 Mbps. A T1 has 24 channels. The T1 is an engineered circuit that is monitored at the central office. The circuit is brought into the customer premise on fiber cable that allows it to transmit at this high speed. Once on premise, the T1 is then connected to the customer’s data equipment.
A T3 line is a larger, faster T1. The T3 Internet line can transmit data at a rate of 43.232 Mbps. This speed is sometimes needed for large applications such as large data file transfers along with other bandwidth intensive uses such as web hosting and streaming video. The T3 is equal to about 28 T1s and is used for large business applications, campus environments and network backbones.
A DSL is another type of broadband connection. It is slightly slower than a T1 – the speed is based on distance from the central office to the customer premise. An advantage of the DSL is that it can typically be brought into smaller locations, sometimes even residential. However, pricing is not much less than the T1, which is also a more stable connection.
Some companies also offer OC lines. These optical carrier lines run over a SONET fiber network and can transmit at speeds of about 51.84 Mbps. There are larger OC lines also available with configurations such as OC3, OC12, OC48 and OC192. The number indicates the size of the OC circuit. OC192 lines are the largest and fastest connections available. An OC192 has transmission speed of up to 1976.64Mbps.
The choice for your business connection should be based on current and future needs as well as price. For the money, T1 circuits are typically the best buy for the small business. They provide fast transmission speeds to allow most applications as well as the ability to accommodate future applications. The T1 is a leased line so monthly charges will apply. Most companies see an immediate savings over standard line connections. The T1 is a reliable circuit. It is monitored from the central office so if a problem is detected it can easily be corrected, sometimes remotely.
By: Van Theodorou
Posts Tagged ‘Broadband Services’
Broadband Services – Tips For Choosing Internet Service For Your Business
January 25th, 2010Satellite Internet and Broadband Services
January 24th, 2010
Satellite Internet access has been growing in popularity since broadband became the standard in the late 1990’s. Because it offers a superior connection to dial up access- which is usually the only option outside of cities and towns-many rural families have opted to purchase Internet service along with their satellite television services.
Where Internet service is concerned, bandwidth is usually the deciding factor for consumers. Cable and DSL providers typically sell their packages in terms of bandwidth, with 256Kbps being the lowest speed service that is usually defined as broadband and some cable services offering speeds as high as 8Mbps. Compared to the fastest modem services which run at 56Kbps, anything from the top to the bottom of the broadband range greatly changes the Internet experience for the user.
Satellite Internet services make use of two-way satellite communication. This means that you communicate to the satellite through your computer and the satellite responds by sending the data you requested to your computer. The download speed of these connections is usually about 10 times the speed of a dial up connection, making the Internet much more useful to those formerly dependent upon a phone modem for connectivity. The upload speed, however, is slower than that offered by regular broadband services. To compensate for this, providers often split upload and download tasks between two technologies. Information from the Internet arrives on the satellite signal, information sent to the Internet is sent through a phone line. Because outgoing requests and uploads are typically very small compared to the amount of information users download, this arrangement is seldom noticeable.
Additionally, satellites orbit the Earth tens of thousands miles in space. This means that outgoing requests must travel as far as 35,000 miles before the satellite receives them. Even at the speed of light, that can take 200 milliseconds in the best conditions, more if weather conditions slow down the process. This delay is properly called “latency”.
Phone connections, though their download speeds are notoriously slow, have very little latency, especially when the information being transmitted is something as mundane as a mouse click or sending an email. This combination of technology is likely a view into the future, as no one technology typically provides as many solutions as the creative application of two technologies can provide.
With satellite connections, there are often restrictions on the amount of data that can be downloaded in a given period. Unless your work or play requires you to download large files, this shouldn’t be a factor that affects your access. However, those who download a large amount of data and reach their assigned limit will find themselves restricted to speeds comparable to a phone line connection. Providers usually offer packages that scale to the needs of their clients, allowing customers who need large amounts of data transfer to have it at a higher monthly subscription price.
Whatever the limitations, having access to broadband speed in rural areas is a huge breakthrough that affects many families.
By: Marshawn Edwards
Broadband Comparison – What to Look For When Comparing Broadband Internet
December 28th, 2009
Did you know that 99% of the population in the United Kingdom already has access to a high-speed broadband network? This is the reason why UK is considered to be one of the best European markets for broadband Internet.
Now, whether you are a new broadband Internet subscriber or you are planning to switch from one provider to another, there are certain factors that you need to take into consideration.
Before delving deeper into the things that you should look for in a broadband Internet service provider, there are a few reasons why subscribers benefit from the stiff competition in the industry.
As more and more broadband service providers are entering the market to get their share of subscribers, the more that their direct competitors lower their rates or offer better deals. As a result, when you make a comparison of the features, quality and costs of the broadband services offered by each provider – you will find out that you may actually get more value for your money.
So the key to getting the best broadband Internet service provider in the market is to make a comparison of the rates and features that they offer.
Broadband Comparison 101: How to Look for the Best Home Broadband Services Provider
To help you out, here are the key features that you need to compare when looking for the best deal when it comes to the home broadband services offered by different providers:
1. The cost of the home broadband service.
Not all broadband services providers are created equal. When you are offered a lower rate during the first month of your subscription, this is definitely a good thing because the savings that you will get will roughly equate to a month or so’s cost of service.
Next, are there any one-off fees that you need to pay? Some broadband service providers may charge you a one-time fee for the modem, wireless router or even the installation. However, some companies offer this for free.
All in all – when comparing the costs – consider the savings that you will get, depending on the offer provided by the company.
2. The speed and the monthly download usage limitations.
For this, you need to measure whether your Internet usage is on the light or the heavy side.
If you like downloading a lot of music or video files, you would need a bigger download limit. You may also want to consider an unlimited usage policy if you are a heavy Internet user.
Additionally, the speed is something that you need to take into consideration. You do not need to pay an arm and a leg for a greater speed if you will end up not using it anyway.
3. The length of the contract.
This is one final cost consideration that you need to make when creating a broadband comparison. There are home broadband Internet service providers who will tie you in with a 12 or 18 month contract.
However, there may be companies out there who will not require you to such a long-term contract. Do your research to find out which one is most suitable for you.
By taking these broadband comparison factors into consideration – you can rest assured that you are getting the best value for your money when subscribing to home broadband Internet.
By: Caroline Telford