Fundamental Differences between T1 Bandwidth and DSL Services

There are basic considerations that need to be thought of when deciding on any service – T1 bandwidth or DSL – one wishes to render. Like any competing services, there are pros and cons that should not be taken lightly.

Basically, T1’s are business connections while DSL services work best for residential connections. T1 has unlimited throughput, guaranteed uptime per month, no port blocking, uploads 2-5 times as high as cable/DSL, faster repair times, and dedicated line. DSL on the other hand, generally has an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) or Terms of Service (TOS) that limits servers and has high downtimes.

In regards to uploading or downloading of files, DSL does have higher download speeds; however, T1 can upload a lot more. T1 also works better when updating a website or frequently sending files. For instance, in a business setting there are less complicated tasks performed to keep up with operations, such as checking emails, browsing the web, and updating database records. In doing so, there is not much need for downloads.

In addition, DSL has a bandwidth shared with a lot of people in a community. Therefore, many customers are paying for a limited resource. The number of users may affect Internet connections by lowering the speed and performance. Conversely, T1 is a dedicated service with consistent speed and performance. However, the amount paid for T1 depends upon the distance from the service area.

Finally, when compared to DSL, a T1 connection frequently has a very strict Service Level Agreement (SLA), guaranteeing businesses a specific “uptime” performance. A T1 line also resolves connection difficulty with fast resolution that usually takes 4 hours. With DSL, if something goes wrong with the connection, the subscriber may wait days for a resolution. This is the main reason for the significant price difference between the two. That being said, before choosing one should consider what network performance best serves his/her needs.