T3 / DS3 Connection
A T3 line is a dedicated, symmetrical 45 Mbps circuit delivered straight from the carrier over fiber or coax. Also called a DS3, a T3 connection bonds the equivalent of roughly 28 T1 lines into one high-bandwidth pipe, backed by a hard SLA. It is built for large offices, video conferencing, and businesses that need guaranteed, dedicated bandwidth they can even resell.
How a T3 / DS3 connection works
A T3 delivers 45 Mbps of dedicated, symmetrical bandwidth over fiber or coax, point to point to the carrier. It carries the equivalent of about 28 T1 lines, or 672 channels of 64 Kbps. A DS3 can run as a full circuit, a fractional or burstable portion, or be channelized into separate T1s for voice and data.
Typical T3 / DS3 pricing
When it fits
✓ Great fit
Large offices with 100 or more users, organizations running heavy video conferencing, and providers that resell bandwidth to downstream customers. A T3 line is a strong fit where a hard SLA and dedicated, symmetrical 45 Mbps matter and where fiber or coax can reach the building.
● Consider instead
If your site can get modern fiber or business Ethernet, those often deliver far more bandwidth per dollar than a DS3. A T3 connection makes the most sense when you need a guaranteed SLA, symmetrical throughput, and a proven dedicated circuit rather than the absolute lowest cost per Mbps.
How it compares
An OC3 steps up to 155 Mbps over SONET fiber; a T3 / DS3 is the 45 Mbps tier below it and reaches more buildings.
A DS3 delivers about 28 T1s of bandwidth in one circuit, far more than a handful of bonded T1 lines.
Dedicated internet describes the service; a T3 line is one symmetrical, SLA-backed way to deliver it.
What to look for
- ✓Fiber or coax. A DS3 can ride either; confirm what is available at your building.
- ✓Burstable option. A burstable DS3 lets you pay for a portion and burst toward 45 Mbps when traffic spikes.
- ✓Channelized vs. clear. A channelized DS3 splits into T1s for voice; a clear-channel DS3 keeps the full 45 Mbps for data.
- ✓SLA + repair time. The reason to buy a T3 connection ... confirm uptime and repair terms in writing.
Common questions
How fast is a T3 / DS3 connection?
A T3 line delivers 45 Mbps of dedicated, symmetrical bandwidth, the equivalent of roughly 28 T1 lines.
What is the difference between a T3 and a DS3?
Nothing ... T3 and DS3 name the same 45 Mbps dedicated circuit, just as T1 and DS1 name the same 1.5 Mbps circuit.
Is a T3 line symmetrical?
Yes. A DS3 provides the full 45 Mbps in both directions, upload and download alike.
What is a burstable or fractional DS3?
A burstable DS3 lets you commit to part of the 45 Mbps and burst higher when you need it, so you pay closer to actual usage.
What is a channelized DS3?
A channelized DS3 divides the circuit into individual T1 channels, useful for carrying many voice lines alongside data.
Can a T3 connection be resold?
Yes. Because a DS3 is dedicated and SLA-backed, providers often resell portions of its bandwidth to downstream customers.
What is the next step up from a T3?
An OC3, which delivers 155 Mbps over SONET fiber, is the next tier above a DS3.
More on T3 / DS3 Connection
A T3 line ... also called a DS3 ... is a dedicated digital circuit that carries 45 Mbps of symmetrical bandwidth over fiber or coax, straight from the carrier to your building. Because the connection is dedicated and never shared, a T3 delivers consistent speed, low latency, and a guaranteed service-level agreement. A single DS3 bonds the equivalent of roughly 28 T1 lines, or 672 channels of 64 Kbps, into one high-bandwidth circuit. That makes a T3 connection well suited to large offices, heavy video conferencing, and businesses that resell bandwidth downstream.
A DS3 can be provisioned several ways. A full DS3 hands you the complete 45 Mbps, a burstable or fractional DS3 lets you pay for a portion and burst higher on demand, and a channelized DS3 splits the circuit into separate T1s for voice and data. When 45 Mbps is no longer enough, an OC3 steps the same dedicated, SLA-backed model up to 155 Mbps over SONET fiber.
Types of serviceOptions and variants
What businesses use it for
- ✓High-density office bandwidth. A dedicated T3 connection serves 100 or more users with symmetrical, SLA-backed throughput.
- ✓Video conferencing. The 45 Mbps of a DS3 carries multiple simultaneous video conferencing sessions without contention.
- ✓Bandwidth resale. Providers resell portions of a dedicated, SLA-backed DS3 to downstream customers.
- ✓Voice trunking at scale. A channelized DS3 carries large volumes of concurrent voice lines alongside data.
- ✓Dedicated internet access. A T3 line delivers guaranteed dedicated internet where fiber Ethernet has not yet reached.
T3 / DS3 Connection details
T3 connection (or DS3 connection), is great for companies with large bandwidth needs. If your company needs computer access for 50 + users, or needs to run high bandwidth applications like video conferencing, you are likely in the market for a T3 connection. A T3 line is also a viable solution for companies looking to resell bandwidth to their customers. Depending on your location and T3 provider availability, your full T3 service will normally be priced between $3,000 and $12,000 monthly.
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. A T1 connection 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. |
| DS3 / T3 Connection | 45 mbps connection - Dedicated line for 100+ users and/or high bandwidth applications. A DS3 / T3 connection can also be used for point to point access. |
| OC3 Connection | 155 mbps connection - Fiber or dark fiber line for enterprise applications. An OC3 connection can also be used for point to point access. |
| OC12 Connection | 620 mbps connection - Fiber or dark fiber line for enterprise applications. An OC12 connection 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. |