Fortunately, frame relay service is offered in a variety of formats giving network managers flexibility in terms of minimizing the monthly recurring cost of the network. Contracting for PVCs from a long-haul carrier is the most common route for large networks. Yet even dial-up frame relay via ISDN is in the cards. Among interexchange carriers there are many pricing and service options. Commonly service is offered on a fixed CIR basis.
Users typically estimate traffic patterns and order frame relay ports as needed.
Getting a handle on price and reliability guarantees are the thorny issue. This lets customers get a handle on traffic patterns after the network is up and running. Each of these services carries a contract price and fine print of its own. Besides price, reliability is a key issue for frame relay users. The two-site recovery options use either backup PVCs or growable PVCs that enable the network to be restored if the primary sites fail.