How do I implement Ethernet services at several locations?
Trusted Advisor for IT & Telecommunications Sourcing
Site Connectivity without complexity
Ethernet services at several locations
One network for every location, without each site managing its own providers
Companies with several branches face the same challenge time and time again: how can a network be designed that offers stability, security and speed to all locations, without each location having to manage its own providers, contracts and service levels?
In a nutshell:
- Standardized network solution for all locations
- High performance through private connections
- Less administrative work thanks to centralized management
- Optimum security and stability for your business
The solution: Ethernet services are often the preferred solution within our WAN portfolio. They enable private connections with high bandwidth and low latency, so that remote branches can be connected as if they were part of a single local network. Implementation, however, requires careful planning, detailed analysis and a clearly structured approach.
What this article covers: We support you in setting up your company network efficiently and securely, with customized concepts and direct provider independence.
Ethernet services as a strategic choice
Ethernet services are technically on level 2 of the OSI model and offer dedicated, private lines away from the public internet. Companies can use them to network their sites securely and with high performance, but while their use represents best practice in many cases, there are also scenarios in which legal or regulatory requirements are the deciding factor.
In a nutshell:
- E-Line: Point-to-point connection between two locations
- E-LAN: Integration of several branch offices in a shared virtual LAN
- Low latency: ideal for voice services and ERP systems
- Higher data security through closed networks
- Flexible scaling for future cloud requirements
Challenges in practice
Ethernet standard expansion: theory vs. reality. The theory of Ethernet services sounds convincing: high bandwidth, low latency and secure Site Connectivity. In practice, however, there are numerous hurdles that require a strategic approach.
Companies are typically confronted with these aspects:
- Different providers with their own prices, contract terms and SLA models
- Technical requirements, which vary greatly depending on the location
- International networking, where latencies affect performance
- Security risks without redundancy and a clear growth strategy
- Industry-specific requirements (e.g. regulation and compliance in the financial or healthcare sector)
Conclusion: Ethernet is a reliable technology, but without forward-looking planning, central control and uniform standards, the network quickly reaches its limits.
Success factors for sustainable Site Connectivity
Projects that rely on centralized best practices are successful in the long term. This includes bundling contracts to reduce complexity and simplify control. Ethernet also proves its worth as a stable basis, supplemented by SD-WAN as a flexible overlay. Redundant lines ensure operational continuity, while scalability should be planned for from the outset, especially with regard to cloud scenarios.
Practical example: mechanical engineering company in Europe. A German mechanical engineering company with several production sites in Europe was planning to introduce a new ERP system. The aim was to enable all subsidiaries to work with the same data in real time.
The solution consisted of a centralized E-LAN structure, supplemented by SD-WAN for outage scenarios. The result: latency times were reduced by more than a third, contracts and service levels were standardized and the consolidation of providers led to cost savings of around 20 percent.
- Contract bundling simplifies control and reduces complexity
- Combination of Ethernet and SD-WAN creates stability and flexibility
- Redundancy and scalability ensure operation and future viability
- Practical example shows: performance increases, costs fall
How to implement Ethernet services in 5 steps
1)
Determination of requirements: which applications are to run, what bandwidths are required and how many locations need to be integrated. A clear assessment of requirements creates the basis for the right architecture.
2)
Architectural planning: an efficient E-Line connection is often sufficient for smaller company networks. Larger site landscapes benefit from an E-LAN structure that can be expanded with dark fiber or SD-WAN if required. VLAN tagging also ensures logical separation within a line.
3)
Provider selection: choosing the right provider is a crucial step. Price, availability and guaranteed service level are the core criteria. Particularly in international scenarios, a combination of several providers is often necessary to ensure a comprehensive solution.
4)
Rollout: ideally, the introduction takes place gradually. A pilot project at a selected location reduces the risk and makes it possible to gather important findings for the subsequent overall introduction.
5)
Operation & control: continuous monitoring is crucial after the rollout. The monitoring of SLA compliance and the central management of all contracts ensure that the network can be operated stably, securely and efficiently in the long term.
How SAVECALL supports your Ethernet implementation
Companies that do not want to use their resources for provider comparisons, contract details or SLA clauses benefit from specialized consulting partners such as SAVECALL: vendor-independent, with access to all relevant carriers and through an established procurement pool with clear cost advantages, as also outlined in our overview of business internet provider selection. This not only takes the pressure off network planning, but also turns it into a real strategic advantage.
Conclusion
The introduction of Ethernet services across multiple company locations is complex. It requires precise analysis, a clean architecture and a reliable operating strategy. Those who consider requirements, providers, redundancy and monitoring at an early stage create a network that is stable today and can be flexibly expanded tomorrow.
Your advantages with SAVECALL:
- More market transparency
- Better conditions
- Noticeable efficiency gains
Written by
Frank Frommknecht
Key Account Consultant, SAVECALL
Has supported companies for over 20 years in selecting and optimizing their connectivity solutions. His focus: making complex telecommunications understandable from the customer’s perspective and finding the right strategic solution.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ethernet Services
Frequently Asked Questions About Ethernet Services
E-Line is a point-to-point connection between exactly two locations, while E-LAN connects several branch offices into one shared virtual LAN. Both service types are standardized by the Mplify Alliance, formerly the Metro Ethernet Forum. E-Line suits simple two-site connections, while E-LAN fits companies with three or more locations that all need to communicate with each other on equal terms.
Ethernet networking pays off especially when high bandwidth, low latency and dedicated private lines matter most, for example for ERP systems or voice services. Compared to MPLS, Ethernet is often more cost-effective, and compared to pure SD-WAN it offers more control over the line itself. In practice, many companies combine Ethernet as a stable base with SD-WAN as a flexible overlay.
Implementation ideally proceeds in five phases: requirements assessment, architecture planning, provider selection, rollout and ongoing operation. A pilot project at one selected location reduces risk before the full rollout begins. Depending on the number of sites and provider availability, full implementation typically takes several weeks to a few months.
SD-WAN complements Ethernet as a flexible overlay for outage scenarios and locations without their own Ethernet connection. While Ethernet provides the stable, dedicated base, SD-WAN handles intelligent routing during disruptions and connects sites with simpler internet access cost-effectively. This combination secures operational continuity without giving up Ethernet’s performance advantages.
Ethernet services run over dedicated, private lines away from the public internet, which significantly reduces the attack surface. Additional security comes from redundancy, a clear growth strategy and industry-specific compliance requirements, for example in the financial or healthcare sector. Continuous monitoring of SLA compliance ensures that security risks are identified early, before they lead to outages.
SAVECALL compares prices, availability and service levels across Ethernet providers independently of any single vendor, and for international scenarios frequently combines several providers into one comprehensive solution. Through the established procurement pool, you additionally benefit from better conditions without having to negotiate with every provider yourself.
Articles that may also interest you
Kunden
Why
Telekom & IT-Sourcing.
Weltweit. Carrier-Unabhängig.
Auswahl & Betrieb weltweiter Connectivity- & Cloud-Infrastruktur. Ohne Vendor-Risiko & unnötige Kosten.
- 80+ Carrier weltweit
- EIN Dashboard
- EIN Ansprechpartner
- EIN SLA
- Min. 20% Einsparung
25+
Jahre Erfahrung
40+
Mitarbeiter
80+
Partner
1400+ Kunden
Was Sie weiterbringt – &
bewegt
Kostenlose Expertenberatung buchen
EIN Kontakt. ALLE Carrier.
+FAQ
Sie fragen.
