DesignRJC

For about $60 to $80 per month, you are able to get high speed internet access at home via DSL, cable or now FIOS through Verizon (limited to certain areas).  To the right, you can see a speed test I conducted on a DSL connection at home.  Sure it is a decent download speed but the upload is a bit slow.  That’s the problem with most home connections, the download is fast but upload is slow.  Even with typical cable providers of internet access, you have this as well.  I think most DSL and cable access have download speeds of about 5-6 mbps and upload speeds up to 1 mbps.  

Now let us compare that to true T-1 lines as I see at work.  As a service provider, we get T-1 lines from AT&T, MCI, Qwest, Verizon, etc.  A single T-1 line gives you exactly 1.544 mbps download and upload (no more, no less).  You always have the option of adding to the bandwidth by adding T-1 lines, thus introducing NxT1, which N = number of T-1 lines.  So for a 3xT1, it just means 1.5444 mbps times 3 or roughly 4.5 mbps.  Of course you will get about three T-1 drop offs and need an enterprise router like Cisco with multiple interface cards to get these T-1’s bonded together.  The cost for a T-1 circuit can range from different providers but a safe bet would be about $1,000 per month.  (This number could be less now with many different LEC’s (Local Exchange Carriers) selling T-1’s now.  

As you add more users onto your network, as you have more software applications and devices depend on the internet, and as web content become fatter and fatter, you will have the need for even more bandwidth.  At about 6xT1’s or roughly 9 mbps still does not meet your bandwidth requirements, the next step would be getting a DS3.  DS3 is 28 T-1’s bonded together giving you about 45 mbps.  A bit too much bandwidth for the typical small or medium business, even some hotels and convention centers I would say.  You get the option of capping it off at say, 10 mbps, so you will not be charged for a full DS3.  As we move toward heavier network usage and more network traffic, obtaining a DS3 for a large network should be required.  

It is silly but I still see large convention hotels or convention centers try to settle with a pair of T-1’s or some type of NxT1 solution.  The bottom line may be better in the short run where you pay less per month and the equipment may be less, but thats probably why neither Google nor Microsoft are not coming to you with their next large convention.  Get with the program, get your self a capped DS3 and be proud to join the big boys with ample bandwidth.  Especially if your a 600 room hotel with about 100,000 square feet of meeting space trying to upgrade from a 2xT1 and deciding whether to go the DS3 route or a 5xT1.  Put up a bit more capital in your technology budget and get that fat pipe.  In the end, your still selling your internet access at a ridiculous rate for just one connection and marketing it as a T-1 access, but in reality, your just providing access to a shared network that the bandwidth your client is getting is not even close to 1.544 mbps.  In the end, you will just hear them cry foul and pissed off about the crappy service.

So here’s a quick warning; internet access is not a commodity, it is a premium service.  But if you charge premium prices, offer premium service.  Upgrade and get with the future.  No way should you charge premium for a share network access, and no way should you give it away because your network slows.  Keep in mind, if you can charge $40 for a gallon of coffee or $60 for a gallon of freshly squeezed orange juice, then it quite justifies charging a bit more for internet as well.  However, you wouldn’t water down your orange juice or use generic brand coffee now, would you?