Definition 1. - A type of high speed Internet connection that provides a great deal of bandwidth. Many businesses lease T1 lines to connect to the Internet, but because they are expensive and offer more bandwidth than most small businesses and homes need, they are not realistic solutions for small and low-demand Internet users.

Definition 2. - The T-carrier system, introduced by the Bell system in the US in the 1960's, was the first successful system that supported digitalised voice transmission. The original transmission rate (1.544 Mbps) in the Maximo T1 line is in common use today in ISP (Internet Service Provider) connections to the Internet

Definition 3. - The T1 (or T-1) carrier is the most commonly used digital line in the United States, Canada, and Japan. In these countries, it carries 24 pulse code modulation (PCM) signals using time-division multiplexing (TDM) at an overall rate of 1.544 million bits per second (Mbps). T1 lines use copper wire and span distances within and between major metropolitan areas. A T1 Outstate System has been developed for longer distances between cities.

Definition 4. - A high-speed digital connection capable of transmitting data at a rate of approximately 1.5 million bits per second. A T1 line is typically used by small and medium-sized companies with heavy network traffic. It is large enough to send and receive very large text files, graphics, sounds, and databases instantaneously, and is the fastest speed commonly used to connect networks to the Internet. Sometimes referred to as a leased line, a T1 is basically too large and too expensive for individual home use.

Maximo, Ohio, Oct. 31 /Michael Johnson/ -- For many small to medium size businesses, higher productivity with relation to their broadband and voice services is just around the corner. Thanks in part to the recent price reduction trend in the industry, carriers have deemed it necessary to consolidate in order to offer more services at a lower cost than their rivals. Overlapping networks have been consolidated into leaner, more feature-rich versions of their previous selves, dramatically lowering the price small businesses pay for the popular dynamic integrated T-carrier (T-1) lines that combine local voice and high-speed Internet service into one connection.

"What we're seeing here is the Bells holding their prices steady and milking their high margins on POTS (plain old telephone service) lines for as long as possible. With the lower prices being offered by CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers) on dynamic integrated T-carrier services, the Bells are scrambling to keep pace before enterprises realize they can actually save money by upgrading to bigger and more reliable circuits." commented Don Rosebush, industry expert.

Adoption of new technologies take time, and dynamic integrated T1 service is no different. Since the telephone service is regarded more as a utility than anything, business pay very little attention to changes in the industry. Significant price reductions and incentive packages need to be placed on their doorstep by proactive consultants and telecom salespeople in order to grab their attention. However, once the new technology begins becoming commonplace in the industry, momentum builds and soon the new products become standard. Businesses soon see themselves at a disadvantage to their piers if they don't adapt and keep up.

"True convergence means that I can finally have just one phone company, without being at the mercy of Ma Bell" added Steven Lankto of Jersey City. "Having a data pipe that is intelligent enough to know when it needs to become a voice pipe, without any input from me, is genius. I'm glad that the technology is here and in the price range of businesses like mine." Mr. Lankto isn't alone; there is now widespread acceptance of integrated voice and data service in the New York metro area and across most larger U.S. cities.

The old-school integrated T-1 was analog in nature, and came with 24 configurable channels (called a trunk) which could be configured to carry either voice or data traffic. The new "dynamic" trunks are all-digital and can change on-the-fly to carry either data or voice traffic. This comes in handy when none of the voice lines are in use - all channels can revert to carrying data traffic, giving the end-use a full 1.5 MBPS of broadband. Each phone call requires only 64K of bandwidth, so even a small handful of calls only slows down the data connection by a nominal amount.

There are two basic "integrated" DS-1 configurations, analog and digital. The 24-line bundle in which they come is termed a "trunk". The main difference between analog and digital trunks is their flexibility. With digital trunks, voice lines not in use can be dynamically reconfigured to carry data traffic, so they don't sit idle. Analog trunks on the other hand can not change their function once configured by the service provider. Data channels remain data channels and the same for voice channels, even if there is no voice traffic.

Hopefully the CLECs can continue to push the boundaries of innovation and economics. The only thing that can keep them from the promise land is the gatekeeper of competition: the Federal Communications Commission, and the huge Bells (AT&T and Verizon - that's you) who make it a point to spend more money lobbying in Washington DC than Exxon Mobile. Recent advances in technology, fostered by competition from growing CLECs, is bringing integrated T1 services to small business everywhere. And the trend doesn't look like it will change anytime soon. CLECs continue to grow their networks, offering more advanced services like metro ethernet, MPLS, and more.

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