Discussion of Frame Relay, it’s Limitations, and How it Compares to Other Options.

Written by: Dennis Green - Dec 2, 2008

Frame relay is designed to provide cost effective data transmission over a shared network. Frame relay derived its name from the fact that it transfers data via various sized units referred to as frames. These frames are commonly transmitted through a shared network (cloud). Frame relay is many times faster than its predecessors, such as x.25, because frame relay is a streamlined protocol designed for speed. This protocol was considered a major advancement at one time, because it was designed to compliment modern digital lines which are virtually noise free. With frame relay, data transmission usually originates through the private line of a customer, transfers to a shared network at the nearest frame relay switch, travels the majority of its distance through the shared frame relay network, and then transfers to the private line closest to the receiving customer. For multiple location businesses which do not require circuits which provide maximum efficiency and have locations which need less than t1 bandwidth, frame relay has been a viable option. The private virtual circuits (PVCs) of frame, can be less expensive than point to point circuits depending on the configuration of the customer’s network. For point-to-point, the distance between network locations has a major impact on circuit price. For frame, the longer the distance utilized via a shared network, the greater the cost savings experienced by the customer, when compared to point-to-point. Another factor which makes frame relay less expensive than point-to-point is that the nearest frame relay node is often much closer to the customer than the provider’s central office. This results in less private line distance being calculated into pricing. An additional benefit is that with frame relay it is often possible to connect to a provider which is hundreds of miles away for close to the same price as connecting to a local provider. For this reason, the number of providers which can be compared is significantly expanded. Frame relay is primarily used for the transmission of intermediate data between LANs, and between end points of a wide area network. Until the most recent few years, the rapid increase in use of LANs and increased availability of fiber optic links had resulted in increased usage of frame relay. Frame relay is at times used for video conferencing, however, point-to-point and MPLS networks are now far better suited for applications which require high efficiency and/or low packet loss.

Recently, frame has begun to become obsolete. There are several reasons for this. First, the price of clear channel T1 has decreased to the point where, it is often less expensive to obtain full t1 to the internet, than it would cost for fractional frame. Second, MPLS (multiprotocol label switching) can offer multiple prioritized applications, over a single circuit. For an extremely competitive price, customers can now obtain completely managed MPLS networks, which prioritize high priority applications such as VOIP, video conferencing, and video or audio streaming. With MPLS these applications carried simultaneously over one circuit with much greater efficiency and far less packet loss than frame. Additionally, because MPLS facilitates encryption, and runs on a closed network, it is now as secure as or more secure than point-to-point circuits. To obtain pricing for frame, MPLS or point-to-point, for your business locations, please use the pricing tool at the top of this page. It is free, easy to use, and there is no obligation. (Click here to return to top of page)