By Bart Rogers, Director of Sales Engineering, FiberLight
At FiberLight, delivering an exceptional customer experience starts with understanding the intended application and aligning it with the right network service. One area that occasionally creates confusion is the request for Ethernet services with static, designated paths across the network. While the request is understandable, it highlights an important distinction between FiberLight Ethernet and Wavelength services.
The good news is that FiberLight offers solutions designed to address both resiliency-focused and path-specific applications. The key is understanding the strengths of each service and leveraging them as intended.
Ethernet Services: Built for Protection and Resiliency
FiberLight Ethernet services are delivered across our MPLS-enabled fiber network and are engineered with resiliency in mind. Rather than operating over a fixed path, Ethernet services dynamically utilize the network to maintain service availability.
This design provides a significant advantage when unexpected events occur. In the event of a fiber cut, equipment failure, or other network impairment, the service can automatically leverage alternate paths to keep customer traffic flowing. The result is greater uptime, improved service continuity, and a more resilient customer experience.
These capabilities are not accidental; they are the result of established Engineering standards and operational procedures that have been developed to provide consistent, high-quality service across the network. FiberLight’s Network Operations Center (NOC) is trained to support Ethernet services based on these standards, enabling faster troubleshooting, streamlined operations, and predictable outcomes for customers.
Wavelength Services: Designed for Static Paths and Diversity
Some applications require a different service capability. Customers will occasionally request Ethernet services that operate over a dedicated, static path. While that request is understandable, it is important to focus on the underlying business and technical requirement rather than the service name itself. FiberLight’s Ethernet services are intentionally designed around resiliency and dynamic path selection, while Wavelength services are purpose-built for static, point-to-point connectivity. By helping customers align their requirements with the service specifically engineered for that function, FiberLight can deliver the best customer experience, the most effective operational support, and the highest level of long-term service satisfaction.
When a customer has a specific need for a dedicated, static path between locations, FiberLight Wavelength services are the better fit. Wavelengths are inherently point-to-point services and are designed around dedicated optical paths. This makes them ideal for applications where path consistency, network architecture requirements, or diversity strategies are critical considerations.
It’s important to note that a customer requiring Ethernet handoffs does not necessarily require an Ethernet service. FiberLight Wavelength services can transport Ethernet signals and are available in high-capacity options such as 10G, 100G, and 400G. This allows customers to achieve the desired functionality while leveraging a service specifically designed for static-path requirements.
The Value of Standards
At FiberLight, Engineering and NOC standards enable reliable and repeatable customer experience. While highly customized service configurations may seem attractive in specific situations, deviations from established standards can introduce operational complexity. They can also create support challenges by moving outside the service models that Engineering has designed, and the NOC has been trained to manage.
By aligning customer requirements with the service that was purpose-built for those requirements, FiberLight can provide more effective support, maintain operational consistency, and deliver the experience customers expect. Standards are not limitations; they are the foundation that allows FiberLight to consistently deliver reliable service and exceptional customer support at scale.
Positioning for Success
The distinction is straightforward:
- Protection, resiliency, and dynamic path selection = Ethernet Services
- Diversity and static path requirements = Wavelength Services
When FiberLight matches the service to the application, everyone benefits. Customers receive a solution that best meets their operational objectives, Engineering can maintain a resilient network architecture, and the NOC can provide support based on established best practices.