The reality is there's little difference between DS3 and T3 connections. These terms really mean the same thing. When you're considering a T3 circuit , that means you need a lot of bandwidth or/and your business is growing.

A Digital Signal (DS) is a system for classifying digital circuits according to the rate and format of the signal (DS) and the equipment providing the signals (T). DS and T designations have come to be used synonymously so that DS1's implies T1's, and DS3's implies T3's.

A DS3 line (also known as a T3 line) is a fast high-speed connection capable of transmitting data rates of up to 45 Mbps. T3 lines are equal to about 672 regular voice-grade telephone lines/data lines, each of which supports 64 Kbps, which is fast enough to transmit real-time video, VOIP, ERP, and very large databases over a busy network. A DS3 connection is typically installed as a major networking circuit for fast growing companies, large corporations and universities with high-volume network traffic. Other possible applications include large call centers, enterprise wide VoIP and IP PBX systems, Internet service providers, research labs, video conference centers and software development companies. A DS3 is fast, although an optical connection (OC3 and above) is faster and is the next step for companies to make once DS3 service is no longer sufficient. DS3 lines are comprised of 28 T1 lines, each operating at total signaling rate of 1.544 Mbps.

T3 services provide businesses and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with up to 45 Mbps of dedicated Internet connectivity. This is an ideal solution for users who have outgrown their T1 connections and are in search of unlimited, high-capacity access. T3 bandwidth are extremely high bandwidth connections into a carrier's backbone. They typically include Service Level Agreements (SLA) that guarantee uptime and performance. They also cost more than bonded T1's, usually the T3 pricing starts at $2,000 and up to $7,000 or more depending on the location.

A DS3 service is comprised up of two monthly charges: the local loop and the port charge. The local loop charge is the cost of the circuit provided by the Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) or local phone company that allows DS3 access into the carrier's network. The loop charge is based on the distance from the customer's location to the edge of the carrier's network (point of presence - POP). The farther the customer is from the network, the more the loop will cost. Nearly every carrier prices loops differently so it is in your best interest to price DS3 service with several providers to ensure that you get the best deal. Shopforbandwidth.com is here to assist you in finding the best deal available.

DS3 Internet Access is the ideal solution for businesses that require high-bandwidth access at a reduced price. Whether you host high-traffic Web sites, support Web hosting or need high-capacity bandwidth on an as-needed basis, there's a level of DS3 services (Full or fractional) that will meet your needs. Fractional to full DS3 or T3 circuits usually run from speeds of 10 Mbps up to 45 Mbps. For a company that needs less than 10 Mbps, looking at bonded T1's may be another option to look into.

For customers that require more bandwidth than a T1 line can provide but do not yet require the capacity of a full DS3 line (bandwidth at less than 20 mbps), a fractional DS3 connection is the ideal solution. A fractional DS3 is similar to a full DS3/T3, only with some of the channels turned off. This reduces the total monthly cost and provides additional capacity that can be turned up in a matter of days with some providers. Unfortunately, the T3 loop is still required for this service.

DS3 service can be deployed for a wide verity of applications. The most common uses are point to point DS3, DS3 internet, DS3 frame relay , DS3 voice and DS3 VPN/DS3 MPLS . The pricing for these connections varies widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used.

Visit Shopforbandwidth.com to obtain current rate quotes for your location on T3 providers.