Ethernet vs. Wave in the WAN

Ethernet extends the company’s own LAN into the WAN over a packet-switched network and is usually provided either as an Ethernet Line on a shared MPLS platform or as Private Ethernet over dedicated fiber. Wave uses its own wavelength in the optical backbone (DWDM) and delivers services end-to-end over an optical interface. In short: Ethernet is flexible and cost-efficient, Wave provides dedicated optical performance with very high bandwidths. SAVECALL assesses vendor-neutral which variant fits your site connectivity.

An Ethernet Line runs on a shared MPLS platform without defined routes and depends on the carrier’s general SLA for latency, frame loss and jitter. It is available from as little as 10 Mbps across metro, national and international areas. Private Ethernet runs as Ethernet over Fibre directly interconnected within the network with defined routes and transmission paths, offers fixed latency plus zero frame loss and jitter, but is only available in the metro area from 1 GB and is around 20 percent more expensive.

Wave is worth it when you need very high bandwidths of 1 to 100 Gbit per second and a dedicated, protocol-transparent connection, for example for data center interconnect, storage replication or Fibre Channel links. Wave transmits over its own wavelength and supports optical protocols such as SDH, OTU and Fibre Channel alongside Ethernet. Ethernet, by contrast, is enough for flexible, cost-optimized site coupling. For the highest requirements in exclusivity and security, Private Wave is the option at the physical fiber level.

A Wave connection is typically around 20 percent more expensive than a comparable Ethernet link, and Private Ethernet is likewise about 20 percent above a normal Ethernet Line. The exact price depends on bandwidth, distance, location, resilience and carrier. Wave pays off when dedicated performance and high bandwidths are business-critical. Through the SAVECALL procurement pool you secure below-market conditions across all variants and a vendor-neutral comparison.

Wave offers higher logical separation than a shared Ethernet Line platform thanks to dedicated optical transmission and separation at the wavelength level. The highest tier is Private Wave: a private infrastructure assigned solely to the customer directly at the physical fiber level, with customer-specific definable routes and diversity. An Ethernet Line is logically separated but shares the physical platform. Which security level you need depends on your compliance and availability requirements, which SAVECALL assesses with you in advance.

An Ethernet Line suits companies that need flexible, cost-efficient site coupling from low bandwidths, including nationally and internationally. Private Ethernet fits metro scenarios with high demands on stability, fixed latency and defined routes. Wave is ideal for data-intensive applications and data center interconnect with very high bandwidths. Private Wave is aimed at companies with the highest demands on exclusivity and performance in the metro area. SAVECALL develops the right connectivity for your sites vendor-neutral.