Making the most of T3 / DS3 broadband requires that you understand the purpose of this level of Internet service. T3 / DS3 lines are primarily used between telephony carriers and require 75 ohm cables and connectors. Cables or connectors that deviate significantly from 75 ohms will have impaired performance and may not work at all.

A Digital Signal 3 (DS3) is a digital signal level 3 T-carrier and be referred to as a T3 / DS3 line. A T-carrier is a generic designation for one of the digitally multiplexed telecommunications carrier systems developed by Bell Labs. There are three additional methods of describing the T3 / DS3 carrier service:

1. A carrier level that carries 672 DS0 signals in its payload; the basic signaling rate of a DS0 signal is 64,000 bits per second (kbit/s).
2. A carrier level that carries 28 DS1 signals in its payload; a DS1 signal is composed of 24 DS0 channels.
3. A network line that carries data at a maximum rate of up to 44.736 million bits per second (Mbit/s). The payload for a T3 connection is 39.144 Mbit/s.
   

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

Learn technical information about T3 internet technologies

There is a great deal of technical information available on transmission protocols. A thorough understanding of the technology involved will aid in your search for a service provider for your business. It is especially important to know the relative transmission speeds of these different technologies.

I recommend: Testmy.net provides a conversion table of broadband speeds and tools for measuring broadband speeds. Prozzone offers a conversion chart and also has an application to convert units of data.

Access data sheets for equipment used by T3 / DS3 service providers to create WAN connections for IS

Service providers frequently need T3 / DS3 equipment to incrementally expand existing infrastructures in a cost-effective manner. These units should have features that will allow diverse deployment options that include DS1, Ethernet and optical services delivery to their subscribers.

I recommend: Compare data sheets on a variety of T3 technologies, including fiber converters, at Omnitron Systems Technology. AllDataSheet.com is a data sheet database that contains datasheets for DS3 equipment from different manufacturers.

Look for current news that informs T3 / DS3 providers about increasing T-1 lines

ISPs frequently resell their telecommunications capacity to their subscribers in the form of T-1 service. Many websites keep regular blogs and posts that offer helpful news and information about T3 / DS3 equipment and ISPs.

I recommend: BroadBand Nation is a blog on broadband topics and allows a keyword search so you can display only articles on T3/DS3 technology. Read the discussion forums on T3/DS3 topics at DS3-T1 Telecommunications.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many service providers offer savings on T3 / DS3 pricing through burstable or fractional rates. A burstable line has a minimum transmission speed although the exact throughput is variable. Fractional service is a fixed percentage of the full rate and is therefore less expensive that regular T3 pricing.

If your company has suffered significant slowing of your service from an overload of voice or data traffic, you may consider upgrading to DS3 broadband. With the constant flood of information available to and coming from businesses, a DS3 Internet connection may give your company more than enough bandwidth for your systems to handle any amount of voice and data flow.

A T1 system traditionally can handle both voice and data applications adequately; as many as 200 employees can be on the system at once, sharing basic voice and data transfers, without problems. However, by bundling together 28 T1 lines, a T3 connection can run 30 times faster. So, when should you look at a business T3?

1. If you already have one or more T1 lines and still experience slow transfer speeds, a T3 line will speed things up considerably.

2. If your company is spread out over multiple locations (offices, manufacturing plants, distribution centers or call centers), a business DS3 connection will more easily absorb the voice and data traffic among the various locations.

3. If your company uses a lot of digital streaming, such as large amounts of data recording or archiving, video conferencing, VoIP, or surveillance cameras, a business T3 line will enable faster "real-time" capability with even less chance of drop-offs or black-outs.

4. If your company is large enough to have considered point-to-point microwave transmission, T3 pricing may be a more cost-effective alternative.

Action Steps
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Shop around for the best T3 pricing

Rather than deal with DS3 providers one at a time, use the 'Geico' approach and allow specialized search and quote tools to obtain competitive prices for you.

I recommend: T1 Shopper is a truly comprehensive site for business T3 information. It not only allows you to input basic information to get price quotes, it provides a thorough summary of key providers. In addition, the sidebar includes various calculators to help you fine tune your IT goals and needs. T3DS3.Net positions itself as a real-time t3 quote tool, obtaining quotes from over 30 carriers using GeoQuote software. Scroll to the bottom of the page to narrow the search by state.

Look for package deals when shopping for T3 Internet

For example, if your company's employees rely heavily on cellular phone service to keep connected, if you have data intensive IP service, or have considered voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) service, contact your current service provider to determine whether they can bundle a business T3 service together with whatever telecommunications service they already provide.

I recommend: XO Communications boasts one of the largest networks in the country, and can build Internet, Ethernet, and WAN solutions, as well as other specialized services. Qwest can build a private network within and between metropolitan areas coast to coast.

Check these two options if DS3 pricing seems too steep

If you're unconvinced that you really afford the full T3 Internet connection, but your current T1 lines still seem crimped, explore two options: hardware that can improve your current connection's efficiency, or splitting up the T3 broadband service, paying for a fraction of the T3 service.

I recommend: APConnections, Inc. offers a device called the NetEqualizer that can manage the voice and data traffic, reducing bottlenecks or brown-out conditions. AffordableT3.com gives you the opportunity to compare providers, including "fractional" T3 connections ranging from three to 22 Mbps.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When deciding to make the leap to T3, a good rule of thumb is to start shopping if you feel a need for over five T1 lines. If DS3 providers can offer a deal as good as or better than multiple T1 lines, pursue a T3 connection.

T3 / DS3 broadband basics include the fact that this acronym stands for T-carrier level 3 (T3) / Digital Signal 3 (DS3). A T-carrier is a generic designation for a digitally multiplexed telecommunications signal that has been developed by Bell Labs.

T3 / DS3 lines are primarily used between telephony carriers and require true 75 ohm cables and connectors. The signal loss on this connection varies by the type of cable, so the maximum distance is variable as well. In order to learn more about T3 / DS3 service you will need to know the following:

1. The data rate for a DS3 signal is 44.736 million bits per second (Mbit/s).
2. A DS3 carrier can transport 28 DS1 signals which have a data rate of 1.544 Mbit/s.
3. A DS3 carrier can transport 672 DS0 signals which have a data rate of 64,000 bits per second (Kbit/s).

Action Steps
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Learn more about a T3 connection

The technology comprising telecommunications can be extremely complex and uses many terms that may be unfamiliar to business professionals. There are many white pages available, in addition to articles that provide valuable information about T3 / DS3 connections.

I recommend: Line56 publishes articles daily for E-business executives and provides a keyword search on its archived articles. Get extensive information on the T carrier signal levels at Data Comm for Business.

Measure the actual speed of a T3 Internet connection

The rated speed of an Internet connection is the theoretical maximum speed the connection can achieve. There are many reasons for an T3 / DS3 connection to have a throughput less than 44.736 Mbit/s including latency, loss of signal and bit stream errors.

I recommend: Speedtest.net is able to test a T3 connection and uses many servers throughout the United States. Test these high speed lines, like T3 and DS3 connections, at Wintek.

Select providers that offer competitive T3 / DS3 pricing

T3 pricing is important, but these carriers should be able to offer stable and reliable connections for businesses. Additionally, the local loop cost for DS3 service can be extremely varied. DS3 service providers may also offer a range of actual throughput speeds that users can expect to achieve.

I recommend: DS3Providers.com offers custom quotes from major DS3 providers based on information that you provide. Everything DS3 provides technical information and pricing on DS3 service, and also offers articles to help you select a DS3 carrier.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Users can obtain their choice of T3 / DS3 equipment independently of the T3 / DS3 service provider. The Synchronous Optical NETworking protocol allows interconnection between network providers regardless of the brand of equipment, so the provider can purchase equipment from one vendor and interface with equipment from another vendor.