T1 service is simply a service delivered directly to the customer, and where the customer needs determine the end use of T1 line bandwidth. The bandwidth capability of a T1 service can be up to 1.54 Mbps. How that capability is directed is determined by what the customer plans to use it for and how much they choose to apply to what service.

T1 service which was intended strictly for voice communications might go directly to the switchboard. This could enable a company to have 23 separate voice lines active at once with a PRI T1 line. Some companies may not have 23 phones in use simultaneously but they need the capability and T1 is the answer.

T1 is not only used for voice but also data and this service can provide the conduit to shunt data from one location to another at 1.54 Mbps. The T1 service is also a full duplex service which means it is able to receive and send data at the same time. While cable and DSL have significant differences between upload speeds and download speed, a T1 service is consistent in speed in both directions.

In today’s connected world some companies require high speed access to the internet to multiple employees and workstations. A T1 service can provide excellent internet service to many computers at one time with excellent speeds as well as reliability. This is an option for businesses with multiple employee work stations that all require internet access in order to do business.

A T1 service might be dedicated to a single application in some companies. Other companies might choose to share the bandwidth or channels among several applications. Phone service might be provided for fewer phones and the excess bandwidth used for internet access or data transfer. In time, when the company needs exceeded the capacity of the single T1 service, a bonded set of lines which act as a single circuit with increased capacity might be chosen.

The service is useful and attractive to large companies as well as smaller enterprises who need the reliability and quality of the service. However smaller businesses may not require as much bandwidth as a full T1 is capable of delivering. When the needs of a business are smaller but reliability and quality are still prime concerns, an option may be a fractional T1. This is a service which allots a fraction of the voice channels or bandwidth to a business, while the remainder might be leased to another company with similar needs.

Large businesses may have bandwidth requirements in excess of what a single T1 can deliver. If that is the case, a bonded line which is simply multiple T1 lines acting as a single line, can increase capabilities without driving up costs in excessively. The next most easily available option is a 45 Mbps T3 line which may be far in excess of many medium sized business bandwidth requirements.

Security, data transfer speeds and reliability of service are critical factors with many companies for selecting service types. T1 service is more reliable than cable or DSL and usually has a service level agreement as well which gives definite service levels and standards for the service providers. Rural businesses are not excluded from these services. While cable and DSL signals degrade over distances, a T1 can be refreshed as often as necessary to provide superior service.