An overview of T1 lines

T1 lines refer to a specific form of fiber-optic or copper-optic phone line that can carry more data than a conventional phone line. The T-carrier line, as it is occasionally called, was enhanced by AT&T Bell Labs for Japan and North America.

Stranded copper telephone line has been the standard for decades, transmitting voice and data via analog signals. Today, that standard is gradually being upgraded to fiber optic line which is made of bundled glass fibers, but most of the T1 line is still completed with stranded copper. The T1 line forms a “pipe” that is capable of traversing larger data streams.

While the typical telephone line can transfer voice and data at a speed of approximately 30 kbps with the use of a dial-up modem. Also, a T1 line can pass 1.544 Mbps or megabits per second, or it can be applied to transmit 24 voice channels that are digitized. Therefore, it can be applied for telephone service in a commercial building, for example, or for transporting data in a network, providing a service up to 60 times faster than a conventional modem.

Businesses with more than eight phone lines can conserve money by purchasing a dedicated T1 line to link to the business location from the local phone company office. This can reduce telecom fees while providing high-speed Internet access. The company is charged for a single T1 line and the price will depend on the loop distance or mileage between the telecom and the company’s location.

The price of a T1 line can be expensive, but rates are reduced as demand increases. Internet Service Providers or ISPs will lease the Ti line to service their customer network. Other multiplexed fiber optic lines are lines T3 and T2, which can move up to 44,736 megabits per second (Mbps). A T3 line is equivalent to owning 28 T1 lines, and is applied by larger companies with higher voice and data demands. More developed T standards also survive, although they are not widely used.

The European Union applies a diverse and incompatible type of carrier line, called E3 and E1. The E2 line is also accessible but less common.

T1s are becoming less conspicuous in places that provide direct Ethernet solutions. However, the distance of Ethernet is now more limited than T1 and therefore not as widely available. Cables, digital subscriber line and T1 don’t really compete. A home consumer wouldn’t have much use for a T1 line, although they have become much cheaper, they are generally not good enough value for a home user, but they are for businesses, particularly medium and large ones.

In general, T1 lines are not profitable for residential or individual use. In this case, cable or digital subscriber line service is a better option. Government agencies and small businesses, particularly those using a private branch exchange or PBX, will typically benefit from a dedicated T1 line.