T3 Pricing
Since T3 pricing will probably drop, avoid contracts that lock you into a fixed price for a period of longer than a year. Been there, done that. If you are installing T3, make sure it has been done before at that location.
It is likely that in the upcoming years, people will see much cheaper prices for the T3 method of Internet access. T3 is a dedicated connection that surfs at speeds somewhere between that of a cable modem and is always going. Using T3 usually involves getting a T3 line and a router installed at your office. You may want to know why you should consider T3.
To start, it is flexible, and you can select from any number of speeds to suit your needs. In addition, unlike a cable modem, you do not need to share the bandwidth with anyone else, so your speed is guaranteed to remain constant. If the Web is your stomping ground for part of each day, you will benefit from the speed of a dedicated connection. The wider the bandwidth is, the faster and more expensive the connection will be. Right now in my area, businesses are paying between $250 - $400 per month for T3 service from 0.75 to 1.5Mbps. With the new ruling, it is predicted that starting in the next six to nine months, both installation costs and monthly fees will be cut by about twenty percent starting in the next six to nine months for even better bargains.
If you are considering T3 for your office, here are a few points to consider. First, you may not be able to get T3 even if you want it. In some cases, T3 may not be available at all due to geographic limitations. Unlike a regular phone line, not all of its offices will be equipped to handle this type of telecom connection.
When shopping service providers, pay attention to their ability to deliver quality customer service. Given that there are currently only 15 major T3 providers nationwide, with only from one to four serving any given area, there will likely be an increase in the number of T3 suppliers with the recent FCC ruling.
However, this can create confusion as to who will be providing the service and responding to problems is not always clear. It is likely that customer service issues can erupt into a blame game if problems come up and your provider does not actually own the line. While working with a reseller will not affect the quality of the connection, customer service woes could potentially sour your T3 experience. For this reason, service-level agreements (SLA) that guarantee the amount of uptime you can expect should be an important part of your negotiation.
Finally, there are security issues with T3. The nature of the connection technology makes it particular vulnerable to outsiders breaking into your system. Since you will be permanently connected to the Internet, whether you choose T3 or any other form of dedicated Internet access, it is a good idea to invest in a firewall that shuts out hackers from accessing your computers. That way, you will ensure surfing is a one-way experience.
