Stronger T3, DS3 Connections

Can Nitel show you a DS3 circuit, sometimes referred to as a T3, that provides the fastest data throughput available for locations that are not served with fiber optics and must rely on the legacy copper telephony network for connectivity.

After all, with uses ranging from point to point private line, direct internet access, IP network connectivity, or data connectivity into an MPLS cloud; a DS3 is a dedicated data circuit providing up to 45 megabits per second of data throughput. A DS3 circuit provides the equivalent of 28 DS1 circuits or six hundred and seventy-two 64 kilobit DS-0 channels.

Now more that ever, DS3 circuits are commonly found at “heavy” data user locations including web hosting sites, medium and large sized corporations with virtual private networks for voice and data, research labs, universities, and other “power” users such as financial institutions, colleges, healthcare providers, and legal offices.

Economically, DS3s are deployed where the break point between provisioning multiple DS1 circuits (each of which requires the same two pairs of local copper loops as a single DS3) effectively provides the additional bandwidth inherent in the DS3 for “free.”

For instance, DS3 circuits are commonly used for corporations to provide the bandwidth needed for engineering (including CAD/CAM) and financial applications; call centers; video conferencing; and enterprise wide PBX and VOIP implementations.

DS3s provide the bandwidth needed for telemedicine (including transmission of radiology reports and imaging), large file transfers and downloads, and simultaneous internet and intranet access and data sharing for multiple users. DS3 circuits may also be used to link applications to remote data centers for disaster recovery/business continuity (BC/DR) data storage applications.

By the way, DS3 and T3 are used interchangeably, although DS3 is the more commonly used term. DS3 circuits are available over copper utilizing two conditioned pairs (4 wire) or over fiber optic carrier systems. Due to the need for “conditioned copper,” the lead time for ordering and implementing DS3 circuits can often run from 45 to 60 business days. DS3s are used in IP networking as the transmission backbone for 10 and 20 meg circuits.

The European equivalent, the E3, provides only 537 voice grade 64 kilobit channels or roughly 34 megabits per second of throughput. Accordingly, special termination equipment and conditioning is required to link and terminate international E3 and domestic DS3 circuits.

In any case, fractional DS3 circuits are available for companies who require more connectivity than would be available on a T1, but do not need the full 45 meg of bandwidth available in a DS3. Fractional DS3s are often used in 10 and 20 meg Ethernet (IP) applications where fiber optic connections and native Ethernet connectivity are not available to a remote location.

Moreover, Nitel is your one stop source for free quotes on T3 connections and DS3 connections, all with Tier 1 Carriers.