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T3 - Tips on FInding The RIght Affordable T3 Line
A long time ago, when a business wanted to lease a T3 bandwidth connection it required getting a local listings book and search for a provider, and many times the provider was one of very few options. This meant you had to usually pay more, and that never even guaranteed reliable up-time for your bandwidth. It was a vital component to business, but very costly and sometimes loaded with headaches and loss of business.
Internet technology eventually caught up with the industry some years ago and not only did more providers than you could count on your fingers and toes pop out of the wood work, but so did the brokers. Naturally the brokerages started to pop up too to save T3 shoppers the hassle of consulting with each T3 provider one by one,and of course, to cash in on some commissions.
It was some time after the Internet growth of T3 providers that real-time quotes popped up to further give convenience for online business shoppers and IT professionals looking to replace or expand their bandwidths. These real-time quotes, regardless of convenience, may not be all their cut out to be, or are they?
Yes, you can save time by scanning providers available in your area instantly, and yes, you can scan the best T3 rates from the providers listed in the quote. The rates are usually right on target with your region, rarely off, and you may find a good enough price that fits your budget, but will you find the most reliable provider?
There is the possibility you can, in reality though the chances are good that you may end up loosing more money than you tried to save. With low pricing, low quality of service can follow, and if not properly informed, a business can experience loss of an entire operation for days. Not all good deals will result in this nightmare scenario, but you must be aware, it is a high probability.
How would your business fair if your operations were to be halted for a day? How much would you loose in customer sales? How much would you loose in employee man hours? How much would you loose on Internet sales if your website is run from an in-house server? As you can see, not having a reliable connection can cause you a lot of harm.
The same problems that could plague you with a bad T3 purchase can affect you all the same with any other bandwidth leases including T1, OC1, OC3, OC12, OC48, OC96, OC192, and up. On a larger bandwidth scale, obviously, the repercussions are more severe.
Make sure when observing the best prices on T3, that you discuss in depth the reality of the provider's track record for performance with the broker providing the quote. If your broker tries to sell you entirely only on one provider, be aware that they may be in amidst a spiff period where they are compensated more than usual for offering one provider over the others. When this happens, you may not be getting the best advice, however, this is not to say that a bandwidth provider offering a spiff isn't a high value provider, but all the same, you may end up paying more for a T3 connection during a spiff if the wrong provider is providing a spiff to agents.
So how do you find the right T3 provider and the right price for your communications budget? Well right off the bat, you need to find a good broker first. No need to revert to the old days, brokers get you lower rates, more so than if you went directly to the provider and a good broker is knowledgeable of the industry standards as well as the high performers.
You need a broker that can consult you through your technical needs just as much as your financial needs. There are a lot of brokers to choose from, so be vigilant and picky when choosing a broker you want to do business with.
Another thing, because you consulted with a broker doesn't mean you are obligated to purchase services through them. Unless you have signed some binding contract (unheard of) you are free to make your own decisions, including consulting with other brokerage firms. Actually, it's highly advisable you do just that. By having more than one broker consult with you, you are able to gather information from other parties to better help you see which provider is probably the best for reliability and service.
One kind of broker that is rare but very beneficial when it comes to quality and pricing is a wholesaler. A wholesaler basically has purchased bandwidth already from multiple providers and has the power to negotiate at much lower rates while offering leading providers.
About the Author Remember that finding the right T3 provider relies on research and you are ultimately responsible for the leasing of services. Larger bandwidths such as OC3 or OC192, the same broker rules will apply. Click here for Article Submissions.
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