A T1 line has 24 channels and can transmit and receive data at the rate of 1.5 Mbps. It can handle up to 24 telephone lines or provide a broad pipe for data transmission in a network or along the internet. This is a lot of data and lines, but may not serve the needs of every business either. The bonded T1 line steps in to deliver more data and voice lines without upgrading all the way to a T3 line.

The problem is the gap between a T1 and the next size is up is 1.5 Mbps for T1 and 45 Mbps second for the next available widely available size, the T3. That is a large difference in size, which many companies have no need for at first, even when upgrading. The answer is a bonded T1, which can multiply the data transmission capabilities of the regular T1 service without the investment in a service in a T3.

The bonded line has multiple T1 lines being connected in such a way as they act like a single circuit or line. This effectively increases the capacity of the service and instead of delivering approximately 1.5 Mbps the single line delivers, the bonded line with two T1 lines may deliver three Mbps. In some cases, a special router may be used to get the lines to working together.

Every provider has different means of delivering this service but Bonding has certain industry standards to which it is held. Bonding stands for Bandwidth On Demand Interoperability Group. Lines might be bonded and bandwidth increased by two, three, four or even eight times. Bonding more than eight lines may make a T3 service more attractive.

Bonding may be very useful for a call center, which handles a high volume of calls. It could be an exceptional means of transferring audio and video, which is greater than a single T1, may handle. A business, which handles a higher volume of phone calls and transmits large amounts of data, may well bond several lines.

Rural locations are ideal for the T1 service because although high speed DSL or cable may not be available the T1 service was intended to use readily available copper lines such as telephone lines. T1 service or bonded T1 is not usually out of reach no matter how rural the location. While running cable or DSL out that far will often degrade the signal the T1 service can be refreshed every mile or so if necessary.

While some businesses may operate well on a single T1 line other companies in the process of growing and increasing bandwidth usage can use the bonded T1 service to expand their capacities affordably. Location is usually not an issue with this service and the capacity is expandable to almost any size up to the T3 capacity. This makes a bonded line the logical choice for companies experiencing a large amount of growth and the need for increased bandwidth.