T3

Stands for "Transmission System Level 3."

A T3 line is a telecommunications standard that provides the equivalent bandwidth of 28 T1 lines, with 672 individual voice channels and 45 Mbps of Internet bandwidth. A T3 connection operates over a coax cable, but limited segments can also use a fiber optic cable. A T3 line is also known as a DS3 (Digital Signal Level 3) line.

T3 lines serve as telephone network trunk connections, connecting telephone switching centers to transmit digitized voice calls and other data from place to place. ISPs also offer T3 lines as dedicated Internet connections for businesses, universities, and other institutions.

T1 and T3 lines are different levels of the same digital transmission system developed by Bell Laboratories, also known as the T-carrier system. The specification has five levels, T1 through T5, with each level several times faster than the previous level. Only T1 and T3 saw widespread adoption.

Newer network technologies have led to a decline in the popularity of T3 lines. Their copper wire backbone is not as fast as the fiber-optic cables replacing them, with some ISPs retiring their copper wire networks entirely.

NOTE: While 45 Mbps is a modest Internet speed now, a T3 line was the fastest Internet connection available during the dial-up era of the 1980s and 1990s.

Updated October 17, 2022 by Brian P.

quizTest Your Knowledge

Which protocol is designed for sending email?

A
HTTP
0%
B
FTP
0%
C
PPP
0%
D
SMTP
0%
Correct! Incorrect!     View the SMTP definition.
More Quizzes →

The Tech Terms Computer Dictionary

The definition of T3 on this page is an original definition written by the TechTerms.com team. If you would like to reference this page or cite this definition, please use the green citation links above.

The goal of TechTerms.com is to explain computer terminology in a way that is easy to understand. We strive for simplicity and accuracy with every definition we publish. If you have feedback about this definition or would like to suggest a new technical term, please contact us.

Sign up for the free TechTerms Newsletter

How often would you like to receive an email?

You can unsubscribe or change your frequency setting at any time using the links available in each email.

Questions? Please contact us.