Question

Tier 1 or Tier 3 ISP - does it matter?

Asked by: pixelchef

We are a small business, about 30 employees. It's time to sign a new contract for internet access. We have home-based remote users on VPN and Remote Desktop, no WWW server on site. I'm looking at integrated access (VOIP and data over a bonded T1) proposals from a "Tier 3" provider and a "Tier 1" provider.

My question for you experts is: would our situation entail a practical difference between tier 1 and tier 3 ISPs? Specifically, I'm concerned about uptime, reliability, quality of the data connection (latency, dropped packets, etc.) but if I have missed any important factors, please let me know. Is the difference between tier levels meaningful only to large enterprises?

Thank you for any advice and opinions you can share. If there is any aspect of this decision I have failed to consider, please let me know that as well.

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Asked On
2009-10-30 at 15:00:46ID24859840
Tags

ISP

,

WAN network

Topics

Internet Service Providers (ISP)

,

Miscellaneous Networking

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
5

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Answers

 

by: MikeLogsdonPosted on 2009-10-30 at 16:19:30ID: 25707395

Tier 3 prices will be cheaper.  Tier 3 are usually resellers that typically only cover a certain area.  Tier 1 on the other hand is like sprint which is part od the internet backbone.  Something to consider to if you go with tier 3 and there is a problem it may now be something they can resolve, they may have to work with their tier 1.

As far as service goes that depends more so on the company rather than being tier 1 or 3.  

 

by: QuoriPosted on 2009-10-31 at 05:21:35ID: 25709424

For your company size, there would be no benefit for the cost difference between tier 1 and tier 3. Go tier 3 but someone with a good rep.

Some of the advantages of tier 1 is for larger organizations with a very broad public surface area of attack (ie large public address space, etc) where you can do fun stuff with as remotely triggered black holing (RTBH) which often doesn't help an organization much if the attack is sufficient enough to bring the provider network to a standstill - an issue more command as you go down tiers, and less as you go up.

Among other perks.

 

by: pixelchefPosted on 2009-10-31 at 12:50:52ID: 25711250

The bids I have received are very competitive on pricing, and the tier 1 may actually be less expensive.

 

by: QuoriPosted on 2009-10-31 at 13:46:23ID: 25711468

Then go with whatever matches your needs and is of good price.

 

by: pixelchefPosted on 2009-11-02 at 06:06:58ID: 31648253

Thank you both for your advice.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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