DS3 Equivalent to 28 T1 Lines
DS3 service at a signaling rate of 44.736 Mbps is the equivalent
of 28 T1 lines at their signaling rate of 1.544 Mbps. Because
of the strict synchronization of TDM services, 28 T1 lines may
be multiplexed into a single DS3 service.
When to Use Pseudowires
A pseudowire is a virtual "circuit" that emulates a
traditional digital telecom service but on a packet switched network.
MPLS networks are especially suitable for pseudowires. By using
a pseudowire circuit, you can get the point to point connectivity
you desire without having to re-engineer your facilities to accommodate
a different protocol network.
DS3 for Call Center Telephony
DS3 voice service can support up to 672 simultaneous telephone
conversations without blocking. If your call center or large corporate
PBX system requires this number of outside lines, DS3 is likely
far more cost effective than ordering the equivalent 28 T1 lines.
How Does DS3 differ from T3?
The terms DS3 and T3 are often used interchangeably. Both refer
to a TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) digital telecom service
operating at 45 Mbps. Strictly speaking, DS3 is the digital signal
level that can be carried by either copper or fiber physical links.
T3 is the T-Carrier standard for DS3 over coaxial copper service.
What is Fractional DS3 Service?
Fractional DS3, as the name implies, is a fraction of the full
DS3 bandwidth of 45 Mbps. Companies order fractional DS3 when
they don't need or want to pay for the full bandwidth offered
by DS3. Even with fractional DS3, you still need the full coaxial
or optical hardware support for 45 Mbps signaling. At low fractional
requirements, bonded T1 lines offer a more cost effective solution.