T3 internet connections have the same power and speed as 28 T1 lines: 672 separate 64 kbps data or voice channels, at a speed of over 44 megabits per second and with stable bandwidth adequate for sending real-time good quality video or supporting very large databases that are constantly in use by multiple computers.
T3 lines are frequently found as part of an intranet, but they also make good reliable internet connections, functioning well as a dedicated line just for your business or as a shared line in which your unused bandwidth is purchased by someone else, and usage tracked so that people pay a fair share of the costs.
This is referred to as “bandwidth on demand,” so if you purchase this kind of connection make sure it’s the right thing, and cost compare with other potential services, like multiple T1 lines. A good way to save money on a shared line like this is to have your offices in a colocation facility, an office park or other central location where you share an OC3 connection with several other businesses.
When you enter into a contract for the T3 internet connection, you should never sign up for more than one to three years. Longer contracts only should come into play with an OCx connection or a much more complex system. Shorter contracts give you the long-term flexibility to reassess, replan, and use another provider should the first one not prove satisfactory.
When you get into internet connections this complex, it’s wise to go through a broker who can help you find the right connection for you, the best price, and the best provider. Even if you’re an experienced IT manager, a good broker knows things about the market and new technologies that may never have crossed your desk.
In addition to planning for your current internet needs, your broker should help you plan for the things you need in the future. You may want to upgrade that T3 internet connection to an OC1 someday, or find ways to subdivide your connection and share it with others. All these things have contract repercussions as well as infrastructure issues that must be assessed.
Your data communications are critical to your growing company. Never let the wrong provider or the wrong choices lose business for you.
