GTE Internetworking announced its Multi-T1 Internet access service yesterday that lets business users incrementally add dedicated bandwidth when needed without breaking the bank.
Multi-T1 is a fully managed service that lets users bundle two to six dedicated 1.544M bit/sec T-1 Internet access connections. Typically when businesses already have two T-1 connections that are reaching full capacity they start looking into purchasing a T-3, 45M bit/sec, Internet access pipe from their ISP.
But for many users, a T-3 pipe is too expensive. GTE Internetworking charges $13,500 per month for a fully managed 6M bit/sec fractional T-3 connection, which includes the customer premises equipment (CPE). The ISP charges $12,900 per month for a fully managed 9M bit/sec (six bundled T-1 lines), which also includes the CPE with its Multi-T1 service.
GTE Internetworking is supporting its Multi-T1 with Cisco Systems, Inc.'s Cisco IOS load-balancing software Express Forwarding. Users are required to deploy a Cisco 4700 series router equipped with four serial ports, and the appropriate number of CSUs/DSUs equal to the number of T-1s provisioned.
Multi-T1 users can buy either the Cisco 4700 router themselves or they can lease the device from GTE Internetworking.
While the service is not available nationwide, it is available in these metropolitan areas: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York City, Palo Alto, Calif., Philadelphia, Richmond, Va., San Diego and San Jose.
Multi-T1 is available in gold, silver and bronze package plans that range from $5,500 to $12,200 per month, depending on the number of T-1s a user is bundling together and if GTE is providing and managing a user's CPE equipment.
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