Ethernet Line. Your sites connected. Private, dedicated, reliable.
Anyone connecting two business locations faces a fundamental decision: VPN over the public internet or a dedicated Ethernet Line. The difference is not just technical, it is noticeable every day. An Ethernet Line connects your sites via a private Layer-2 connection that behaves like a very long network cable between your switches. Guaranteed bandwidth, minimal latency, complete protocol transparency, no public internet, no shared medium. weSystems plans, procures and operates Ethernet Lines for organisations that need to rely on their network infrastructure.
What an Ethernet Line means for your business.
An Ethernet Line is the most direct form of site interconnection. Two locations, one private connection, guaranteed bandwidth. What goes in on one side comes out on the other. Symmetrically, reliably, without detours.
For your network team that means complete control. The Ethernet Line is a transparent Layer-2 transport medium. Your VLAN design, your routing logic and your existing network architecture remain fully intact. No rebuilding, no adjustments, no compromise.
For your applications that means stability. Data replication, backup traffic, ERP systems, VoIP. Everything runs on a connection that belongs to you. No fluctuations, no shared medium, no external influence on your performance.
Private. Dedicated.
Completely under your control.
An Ethernet Line, also known as Ethernet Line service or E-Line, is a point-to-point service at Layer-2 level. The connection behaves like a direct Ethernet cable between two switches, regardless of how far apart the locations are. All Layer-2 protocols are transmitted transparently, your own VLAN design, your routing logic and your existing network architecture remain fully intact.
For your network team that means maximum control. You decide how traffic flows between locations, which VLANs are used and how IP routing is structured beyond that. The Ethernet Line is the transparent transport medium, nothing more and nothing less.
Technical specifications of the Ethernet Line in detail.
Bandwidth
10 Mbit/s to 100 Gbit/s
Symmetric, guaranteed, uncontended. No overbooking, no best effort. Available in full at all times.
Interfaces & port types
FastE · GigE · 10GigE · 100GigE
Connection via fibre optic or copper depending on location and available infrastructure.
Protocol transparency
Full Layer-2
802.1Q VLAN tagging and QinQ (802.1ad). Your VLAN design, routing logic and network architecture remain fully intact.
Class of Service & QoS
Up to 7 service classes
Prioritisation by application type. VoIP and real-time traffic receive guaranteed priority over backup traffic.
Encryption
End-to-end, up to 10 Gbit/s
Optionally available for metro, national and international connections. Activatable as an add-on at no extra charge.
Link Aggregation (LAG)
IEEE 802.3ad
Two physical interfaces, one as backup. Increases both availability and effective bandwidth simultaneously.
Redundancy & resiliencez
Fiber pair failover
Combined with core network redundancy. Diversity option for two physically separate routes available on request.
SLA & availability
up to 99,99%
Defined response times by priority. 24/7 active monitoring, proactive fault resolution, no call centre.
MEF 3.0 certification
Carrier Ethernet standard
International industry standard for Ethernet services. Guarantees interoperability and standards-compliant service quality.
Reach
Metro · National · International
On-net in 230+ connected cities, off-net via local access partners worldwide. Also available for international locations.
When an Ethernet Line is the only right choice.
Connecting data center and location
Anyone connecting their primary data center to an office location or a secondary data center needs guaranteed bandwidth and stable latency. An Ethernet Line delivers both, without dependence on the public internet.
Data replication and disaster recovery
Synchronous or asynchronous data replication between two sites requires consistent throughput. Fluctuating VPN bandwidths mean fluctuating replication times, in the worst case missed RPO targets. With an Ethernet Line, replication runs predictably and reliably.
Backup traffic with defined time windows
Anyone transferring backups over the network needs to know the time window. On a dedicated Ethernet Line you book the bandwidth you need and the backup completes within the planned time.
ERP and central applications across locations
Centrally operated ERP, CRM or other business applications are sensitive to latency and packet loss. An Ethernet Line gives you the stable, predictable network quality these applications require.
VoIP and unified communications between locations
Internal telephony and video conferencing between locations need low and stable latency. With Class of Service on the Ethernet Line, voice traffic is prioritised regardless of simultaneous data load.
Compliance and regulatory requirements
Anyone who must ensure that certain traffic never touches the public internet has a solid technical and legal foundation with an Ethernet Line. The physical isolation is provable and auditable.
Ethernet or VPN? What the differences really mean.
| Ethernet | VPN über Internet | |
|---|---|---|
|
Connection type |
Dedicated, private |
Shared, public |
|
Bandwidth |
Guaranteed |
Best Effort, variable |
|
Symmetry |
Full |
Limited |
|
Latency |
Stable, minimal |
Variable |
|
Protocol transparency |
Full Layer-2 |
Limited |
|
VLAN support |
Yes, 802.1Q and QinQ |
No |
|
Encryption |
Optional end-to-end |
tunnel-based |
|
Class of Service |
Up to 7 classes |
No guarantee |
|
SLA on bandwidth |
Yes |
No |
|
Security level |
Physically isolated |
Logically separated |
|
Auditability |
High |
Limited |
|
For whom |
Critical workloads, DC, ERP, DR |
Standard office connectivity |
We do not just deliver. We take responsibility.
An Ethernet Line is easy to order. But whether it genuinely fits your infrastructure, whether the bandwidth is sufficient for your workloads, whether Class of Service is configured correctly and whether the redundancy architecture meets your availability targets — these are questions that should be answered before the order is placed. We analyse your requirements and plan the Ethernet Line so that it delivers what it needs to from day one.
Ethernet Lines across multiple locations typically mean multiple local carriers, multiple contracts and multiple points of contact. We aggregate that for you. You have one contract, one contact and one SLA that applies to the entire Ethernet Line, regardless of how many carriers and access partners are involved behind the scenes.
An Ethernet Line is rarely the last piece of the puzzle. It usually also requires Business Internet for the locations, Cloud Connect for direct cloud connectivity or Managed Firewalls for network security. Because we offer all of that from a single source, we always think about the Ethernet Line in the context of your entire network architecture.
Related Services
Business Internet
Dedicated internet access with guaranteed bandwidth for your locations. As a complement to the Ethernet Line for external connectivity.
Dark Fiber
Dedicated fibre optic lines without active network components for maximum control and bandwidth. The alternative for organisations that want to deploy their own network technology.
Wavelength
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Ethernet Line?
An Ethernet Line connects two business locations via a dedicated Layer-2 connection without routing through the public internet. The connection behaves like a direct Ethernet cable between two switches, with guaranteed bandwidth, stable latency and complete protocol transparency.
What is the difference between an Ethernet Line and VPN?
VPN uses the public internet and shares infrastructure with other users. Bandwidth fluctuates, latency varies and there are no guarantees on performance. An Ethernet Line is a physically dedicated, private connection with guaranteed bandwidth, minimal latency, an SLA and complete isolation from the public internet.
What does MEF 3.0 certification mean for an Ethernet Line?
MEF 3.0 is the international industry standard for Carrier Ethernet services. Certification guarantees defined service quality, standards-compliant implementation and verifiable adherence to technical parameters such as bandwidth, latency, jitter and packet loss on the Ethernet Line.
What is Class of Service on an Ethernet Line?
Class of Service enables prioritisation of different traffic types on the Ethernet Line. Up to seven service classes can be defined so that VoIP and real-time applications receive guaranteed priority over backup or bulk traffic.
What does protocol transparency mean on an Ethernet Line?
Protocol transparency means the Ethernet Line transmits all Layer-2 protocols unchanged. Your VLAN configurations, routing logic and network architecture remain fully intact. Your network team retains full control without restrictions from the transport medium.
Which bandwidths are available for an Ethernet Line?
Symmetric bandwidths from 2 Mbit/s to 100 Gbit/s, guaranteed and uncontended. The booked bandwidth of the Ethernet Line is available to you at all times in full, identical in both directions.
Is end-to-end encryption possible on an Ethernet Line?
Yes. End-to-end encryption is available as an optional feature for Ethernet Lines, up to 10 Gbit/s. It supplements the base service without structural performance limitations.
What is Link Aggregation on an Ethernet Line?
Link Aggregation according to IEEE 802.3ad connects two physical interfaces into one logical interface, with one serving as backup for the other. This increases both the resilience and the effective bandwidth of the Ethernet Line.
Is an Ethernet Line also available internationally?
Yes. Via global backbone partners we provide Ethernet Lines for metro, national and international routes. On-net in 230+ connected cities, off-net via local access partners worldwide.
What does an Ethernet Line cost?
The cost of an Ethernet Line depends on bandwidth, locations, distance and chosen options such as Class of Service, encryption and redundancy. We are happy to put together a transparent, individual proposal after analysing your requirements.