What Gives a DS3 Line an Edge?

A DS3 line is a high bandwidth and dedicated circuit that can reach speeds of up to 45 Mbps. It is roughly 28 times faster than T1 line and has the capability of 672 telephone lines. The DS3 or Digital Signal 3 is the same technology as T3 lines. The only difference between the two is the name.

There are a lot of internet service providers that offer DS3 connections, but it is important that we know the facts before getting it. Unlike DSL, DS3's are dependent on the customer's address and phone number. It is highly recommended that one use correct information when applying, so that you can get the exact price.

Large companies often require a very stable and fast internet connection and the DS3 connection can deliver what they need. This line can give blazing downloads and upload speeds without any lag, since it is directly connected to the ISP's backbone server. Large companies use it in order to transmit real-time video or large databases. These are companies in the field of research, call centers, etc..

Since the DS3 is mostly used for commercial purposes, it includes service level agreements or SLAs. SLAs guarantee bandwidth performance at any given time. In other words, the speed of the internet is guaranteed not go below a certain speed. Most commercial line SLAs include a specific timeframe for network problems. If there is an internet outage, the first ones that are fixed are usually commercial lines.

Unlike commercial DSL lines, DS3 connections have two monthly charges. The first one is the local loop, which is the price of the circuit setup by the LEC or Local Exchange Carrier. The second is the port charge, which is mostly based on the distance of the customer's building from the internet service provider's network. This is why it is important to check a couple of carriers. The most affordable DS3 line is usually an offer by the nearest ISP.

Like DSL, DS3 internet access has two main levels of service. The first type is the Fractional DS3. This is a DS3 connection, but with a reduced price and fractional speed. In addition, this type usually involves when-needed bandwidth and Web Hosting companies use this kind of DS3 connection. The second type is Full service DS3, which is dedicated and guaranteed bandwidth. Its speed is 45 Mbps. Unlike fractional DS3s, Full DS3's speed is constant whether it is in use or not.

DS3s can also be used for a Virtual Private Network or VPNs. VPNs require a lot of bandwidth, especially if it requires heavy data transfers such as videos or databases. It is a lot better than getting multiple T1 connections and bonding them together. The usual downtimes for DS3's are also significantly lower than DSL or T1 connections and are usually fixed within a couple of hours.

A DS3 line is one of most stable internet connections available. It offers lightning fast speed with no server lag. However, it does cost considerably more than a DSL or T1 Lines. If you have a company that requires dependability and speed, a DS3 connection might be the answer. If you do not, you can always check out other internet connection types.