Given that DSL is now commonplace in many homes... higher bandwidth concepts such as DS3 bandwidth are much easier to discuss with those with no or limited technical background. Particularly businesses without their own IT shop.

With that thought in mind... here's a non-technical description of DS3 Bandwidth and the different types of DS3 lines a business needing a voice and/or data network solution could opt for:

1. Full DS3 - simply stated, this is a 45 Mbps connection. This is about 90x faster than the average speed that is subscribed by a DSL customer. Thus, 90 people can easily and simultaneously access the internet or some other application... and receive excellent response time, just like you do at home.

DS3 is capable of running over 20 times faster than a T1 connection... Ideal for companies with the need for high speed data transfer between sites and offices specifically fast enough for transmitting full-motion, real-time video and very large databases.

2. Fractional DS3 - this is a speed that is less than DS3. It can be almost any speed that you choose that is below 45Mbps. It also costs less than a full DS3 obviously.

Fractional DS3 bandwidth gives you only a slice of the cake (sort of speak) which allows you to pay for only the bandwidth you need.

3. Burstable DS3 - This typically means that your average speed is much less than 45Mbps. However, there may be periods in the day when you need a little bit of extra speed. With burstable DS3, you will be able to get a temporary boost to a limit of 45Mbps. You pay for these boosts only if they exceed a pre-determined periodicity.

Burstable DS3 is on similar lines to Fractional DS3, again the user(s) only pays for what they need. You will receive a minimum 4 Mbps internet connection with a maximum of 45 Mbps on a DS3 Service depending on overhead, cost etc. Burstable will allow you to be billed in 1Mbp increments after the first 4Mbps. This is ideal if the bandwidth you use on a monthly basis is inconsistent.

4. Point-to-point DS3 - A full DS3 circuit (usually). Think of it as one postal address is connected to another postal address. Only these two addresses can share files, email, etc. Unlike the internet where anyone can talk with anyone. Best for networks where security and control of information exchange is important.

DS3 Service can be deployed for a wide variety of applications. The most common uses are DS3 point-to-point, DS3 Internet, DS3 Frame Relay, DS3 Voice and DS3 VPN. Choosing which Service best meets your needs would again be down to cost, the carrier (service provider) and the application for which the connection is being used. DS3 Point-to-Point is mainly used for secure data over a private line connection that belongs to the user only. This service is perfect for companies that send sensitive data over the internet.

For help deciding what type of DS3 bandwidth package best fits your specific business network application(s)... I recommend that you take advantage of the free assistance offered via DS3 Bandwidth Solutions.



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