T1/DS1 broadband in Virginia uses two pairs of copper wire for transmission over telephone lines. An ordinary telephone line uses the DS0 transmission protocol, which carries 64 Kbit per second. A T1 line uses the DS1 protocol to combine the equivalent of 24 telephone lines for a total bandwidth of 1.536 Mbit per second.

T1 carriers in Virginia are usually able to provide DS0 fractions to private customers. However, a small business will typically use a full T1 line to connect to the Internet and a larger business may use multiple T1 lines bundled together.

There are three primary factors to consider when preparing to compare broadband services in Virginia:

1. Prices for T1 in Virginia vary in part according to your distance from the carrier’s Point of Presence. The further you are from the carrier’s POP, the more your T1/DS1 line will cost.

2. Major carriers usually own and operate their own networks, generally resulting in the best actual transmission speeds.

3. A channel bank is necessary to separate the DS1 data stream back into the 24 DS0 data packets. This device is relatively expensive to purchase or lease and represents a substantial investment for a small business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate Virginia T1 Internet providers that sell full T1 service

Use dedicated T1 in Virginia to provide high-speed Internet access for a group of employees. These services frequently include multiple static IP addresses and email addresses under your domain name.

I recommend: Speakeasy offers T1 service throughout the country. You can check for service availability on Speakeasy's website by providing your location information. Intercom provides businesses across the country with full and bonded lines.

Find dedicated T1 providers in Virginia that specialize in business packages

Get T1 access in Virginia from a provider that can meet your needs now and scale your requirements as your business grows.

I recommend: Cogent Communications offers dedicated T1 and T3 service to its Tier 1 backbone for businesses in more than 100 markets. Verizon has a small business package specifically designed for 20 or fewer employees.

Check out local provider packages from Virginia T1 service providers

The local provider connects your business to the carrier's POP. This connection is known as the local loop and represents a substantial component of a T1 line's cost.

I recommend: Roadstar Internet provides T1 access to business in Loudoun County and other areas surrounding the Blue Ridge Mountains. Broadband Network Services Inc., or BNSI, is in Charlottesville and includes multiple static IP addresses in its business services package.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  T1 service providers in Virginia will almost always offer substantially faster access than a DSL line of the same rated speed. Providers of T1/DS1 broadband rarely oversubscribe their services, meaning that these customers will have access to the full transmission rate of 1.544 Mbps. By contrast, the oversubscription rates for DSL lines routinely exceed 4:1.
• •  T1 access in Virginia also is available as a channeled circuit to allow voice traffic on a portion of the channels. These voice channels may be plain T1 or Primary Rate Interface channels. Call centers frequently use PRI lines because they also carry signaling data such as Caller ID and Automatic Number Identification data.