I currently have a hub and spoke WAN set up between my corporate service center and 53 remote locations. Currently I have a full T1 to each remote that is running what Qwest calls a PRN (private routed network) but it is really just a VPN that they set up to each site for me. From Qwest's cloud, I have a DS3 to my corporate service center.
Last fiscal year I was asked to look into adding a T1 to each of my remote locations (would be bonded to the existing T1 via MLPPP). Now that I have finally had time to kick this project off, my management is questionsing this investment of the second T1 since our WAN provider contract is up for renewal in less than 12 months. We will be going through an RFP process where all the major providers will have an opportunity to bid on our business. My management is saying "what if we invest in adding a second T1 to each remote location and then a new vendor comes along with a proposal to implement a new technology that would make the need for the second T1 obsolete?"
Yes, we need the second T1 since during backups and peak usage times of the day we peak the current T1. We also have a project that we will be implementing soon where will be running video across these WAN links (remote < > corporate).
My question to you all is - what technology exists that someone like Qwest, AT&T, Verizon, and even Comcast might implement that would make this investment in a second T1 obsolete? I know when I have checked into Comcast cable as a backup data source for some of my sites, the availability is limited due to the fact we are normally in more industrial areas and not in residential areas. For instance, Comcast wanted $60,000 to run coax to my corporate building due to the distance from their current closest drop.
I previously worked at a corporation that changed from an MCI provided frame relay network to an AT&T MPLS network, but that didn't change the need for bandwidth. I am attempting to justify moving forward with the implementation of these second T1's, but I could use your feedback.
Last fiscal year I was asked to look into adding a T1 to each of my remote locations (would be bonded to the existing T1 via MLPPP). Now that I have finally had time to kick this project off, my management is questionsing this investment of the second T1 since our WAN provider contract is up for renewal in less than 12 months. We will be going through an RFP process where all the major providers will have an opportunity to bid on our business. My management is saying "what if we invest in adding a second T1 to each remote location and then a new vendor comes along with a proposal to implement a new technology that would make the need for the second T1 obsolete?"
Yes, we need the second T1 since during backups and peak usage times of the day we peak the current T1. We also have a project that we will be implementing soon where will be running video across these WAN links (remote < > corporate).
My question to you all is - what technology exists that someone like Qwest, AT&T, Verizon, and even Comcast might implement that would make this investment in a second T1 obsolete? I know when I have checked into Comcast cable as a backup data source for some of my sites, the availability is limited due to the fact we are normally in more industrial areas and not in residential areas. For instance, Comcast wanted $60,000 to run coax to my corporate building due to the distance from their current closest drop.
I previously worked at a corporation that changed from an MCI provided frame relay network to an AT&T MPLS network, but that didn't change the need for bandwidth. I am attempting to justify moving forward with the implementation of these second T1's, but I could use your feedback.
