DS3 is enjoying a rising popularity as companies saturate their T1 connections and look to move from the DS1 level of 1.5 Mbps to DS3 at 45 Mbps. This wider bandwidth serves a larger user base for dedicated Internet. It also supports telephone services for larger call centers. Video, especially high definition video feeds and video conferences, demand more Mbps even in compressed formats. Other imaging transmission, including teleradiology, benefit from higher speeds for faster transfers.
So, what can an IT manager expect in the business bandwidth marketplace today? First and foremost is dramatic price reductions compared to even a few years ago. Telecommunications transport has become fiercely competitive as new carriers look to penetrate territories traditionally dominated by incumbent telephone companies.
This phenomena has also expanded the range of last mile delivery options. Where DS3 was originally carried over coaxial T3 copper lines, it is now primarily a fiber optic service. DS3 was designed as part of the T-Carrier structure that neatly multiplexes onto SONET fiber optic services such as OC3, OC12 and OC48. Within larger metro areas and colocation facilities, fiber based DS3 is readily available and very affordable. This is especially true for buildings already lit for fiber optic service.
Wireless business broadband services, such as those offered by Nextlink, use microwave spectrum to transport T1, DS3 and even OC3 services from the carrier's point of presence to your business location. Line of sight transmission is usually a requirement, but dropping lines from overhead poles or underground conduits is avoided. For much shorter hops, free space optics from providers such as Terabeam can deliver high bandwidths using infrared laser beams.
While DS3 is defined as a TDM rather than packet based technology, protocol conversions make it relatively easy to transport IP services such as dedicated Internet. Ethernet over DS3 is a newer offering that makes network management even easier. With Ethernet over DS3, your LAN is effectively extended across town, across the country or even internationally.
While DS3 services are more available in heavily populated areas, fractional DS3 can be provided in many more locations by bonding T1 lines together. This gives you 2x, 4x, 8x, and even more multiples of T1 bandwidth in a single large data pipe.
Is your business in need of the bandwidth that DS3 services can provide? Do a quick online check for DS3 services for your location. Be sure to let our team of experts consult on your requirements. They have many more options available than what you see in the instant results.
