Fractional T1
A Fractional T1 line delivers a portion of a full T1 connection, typically 256 Kbps to 768 Kbps of dedicated, symmetrical bandwidth. It is provisioned in 64 Kbps channel increments and can be turned up toward the full 1.5 Mbps on demand, because the unused channels are already in place. For a small office that wants dedicated point to point reliability without paying for a whole T1, it is the cost-effective entry point.
How a Fractional T1 works
A full T1 line is built from 24 channels of 64 Kbps. A Fractional T1 lights only some of those channels, commonly 4 to 12, to deliver 256 Kbps through 768 Kbps of dedicated bandwidth. Because the copper and the T1 connection are already in place, your carrier can turn up more channels on demand and scale you toward the full 1.5 Mbps without a new install.
Typical Fractional T1 pricing
When it fits
✓ Great fit
Small offices of roughly 5 to 20 users that want a dedicated, symmetrical T1 connection and a hard service level, but do not yet need the full 1.5 Mbps. It is a strong fit when guaranteed, point to point bandwidth matters more than raw speed and the budget rules out a full T1.
● Consider instead
If your traffic is already pushing the top fractional channels, a full T1 line costs little more and removes the ceiling. Where it is available, fiber or cable delivers far more bandwidth per dollar, so consider those if dedicated point to point delivery is not a requirement.
How it compares
A Fractional T1 lights only some channels for a lower price, while a full T1 connection dedicates all 24 channels for the complete 1.5 Mbps.
A Fractional T1 is dedicated and symmetrical with an SLA, while DSL is shared, asymmetrical, and best effort.
A Fractional T1 dedicates its channels to data, while an integrated T1 splits the circuit between internet and voice lines.
What to look for
- ✓Provisioned in 64K steps. Confirm the channel count; a Fractional T1 grows 64 Kbps at a time toward the full T1.
- ✓Scale on demand. Ask how quickly the carrier can turn up more channels and reach 1.5 Mbps without a truck roll.
- ✓Symmetrical and dedicated. A Fractional T1 connection gives the same speed up and down, reserved for your business.
- ✓SLA and term. Verify the service level and contract length, which often run 1-3 years on a T1 line.
Common questions
How fast is a Fractional T1?
A Fractional T1 typically delivers 256 Kbps to 768 Kbps of dedicated, symmetrical bandwidth, with the option to scale up to 1.5 Mbps.
What does fractional mean on a T1 line?
It means only part of the T1 is lit. A Fractional T1 uses some of the 24 channels rather than all of them, so you pay for the bandwidth you need.
Can a Fractional T1 be upgraded to a full T1?
Yes. Because the T1 connection is already provisioned, the carrier can turn up the remaining 64 Kbps channels on demand up to the full 1.5 Mbps.
How much does a Fractional T1 cost?
A Fractional T1 generally runs a few hundred to about $1,200 per month depending on how many channels are active.
Is a Fractional T1 dedicated or shared?
Dedicated. The active channels on a Fractional T1 connection are reserved for your business on a point to point link.
Who should buy a Fractional T1?
Small offices of 5 to 20 users that want dedicated, symmetrical bandwidth and a hard SLA without paying for a full T1 line.
More on Fractional T1
A Fractional T1 line gives a business a slice of a full T1 connection, usually 256 Kbps to 768 Kbps of dedicated, symmetrical bandwidth delivered point to point from the carrier. The circuit is built from 24 channels of 64 Kbps, and a Fractional T1 simply lights a subset of those channels, so you pay for the capacity you actually use. Because the line and the T1 connection are already in place, the carrier can scale you upward in 64 Kbps increments and reach the full 1.5 Mbps on demand as your needs grow. That makes it a cost-effective dedicated option for offices of roughly 5 to 20 users that want T1 reliability on a smaller footprint.
Unlike shared or best-effort connections, a Fractional T1 reserves its bandwidth for your business and backs it with a service-level agreement. The same symmetrical speed runs in both directions, which suits voice, point to point links, and steady application traffic. When demand outgrows the top fractional tier, stepping up to a full T1 line is a simple channel turn-up rather than a new install.
Types of serviceOptions and variants
What businesses use it for
- ✓Dedicated small-office internet. A Fractional T1 connection gives 5 to 20 users guaranteed, symmetrical bandwidth where fiber is unavailable.
- ✓Point to point links. A Fractional T1 line connects two sites directly when full T1 bandwidth is not required.
- ✓Cost-controlled connectivity. Pay only for the channels you light, then scale the T1 connection up as the business grows.
- ✓Branch and remote sites. A right-sized dedicated T1 line suits smaller locations that still need an SLA.
- ✓Steady application traffic. Symmetrical, dedicated channels keep latency-sensitive apps consistent for a modest user count.
Fractional T1 details
A Fractional T1 line is perfect for medium and large businesses needing an internet service provider for 5 to 30 users. A Fractional T1 line is a portion of a 24 channel circuit providing an internet connection straight from the broadband provider backbone. For this reason a Fractional T1 line is a very stable and reliable connection. You also maintain scalability since there is no bandwidth aggregation and the unused channels can be turned up on demand. Depending on your location and T1 provider availability, a fractional T1 will normally be priced between $350 and $1,200.
The connectivity ladderHow it compares, and where to go next
Where this connection sits among the options, with the businesses each one fits.
| Service | Connection details |
|---|---|
| Business DSL | 256 kbps to 1.5 mbps connection - Shared line for 5 to 50 users. |
| Fractional T1 Line | 256 kbps to 768 kbps connection - Dedicated line for 5 to 20 users. |
| Integrated T1 Line | 128 kbps to 1.5 mbps connection - Dedicated line for 5 to 30 users plus voice lines. |
| Full DS1 / T1 Connection | 1.5 mbps connection - Dedicated line for 20 to 50 users. T1 lines can also be used for point to point access. |
| Multiple T1 Lines | 1.5 to 6 mbps connection - Dedicated lines for 50+ users and/or high bandwidth applications. Multiple T1 lines can also be used for point to point access. |
| T3 / DS3 Connection | 45 mbps connection - Dedicated line for 100+ users and/or high bandwidth applications. T3 / DS3 connections can also be used for point to point access. |
| OC3 Connection | 155 mbps connection - Fiber or dark fiber line for enterprise applications. OC3 connections can also be used for point to point access. |
| OC12 Connection | 620 mbps connection - Fiber or dark fiber line for enterprise applications. OC12 connections can also be used for point to point access. |
| VPN Solution | Managed hardware VPN solutions for secure private network connections and VPN server software for secure virtual private networks. |