As part of a TDM circuit replacement project with one of our partners, it was required to transitioned to a Metro-Ethernet which in today’s world, you’d expect to be delivered over fiber.
However, I quickly began experiencing reliability issues. After some investigation, I noticed a pattern: the Metro-E circuit would go down at the same time as the internet connection used for our guest Wi-Fi. That raised a red flag.
During my next site visit, I traced the circuit and discovered something surprising. Our partner had contracted with Verizon, who in turn used a local off-net provider. That provider delivered the service using a consumer-grade cable modem, followed by a Ciena switch (likely for IPSec, VXLAN, or EVPN tunneling), and then handed it off to Verizon.
This daisy-chained setup was eye-opening , especially considering that at least four other providers already had fiber demarcation points at this location, including the same off-net provider. So why choose a shared coaxial cable over dedicated fiber?
This experience highlights a critical issue: some telecom providers are delivering “enterprise” services over non-enterprise infrastructure. Unlike TDM, which offered a dedicated line between the provider and the demarc, this solution relied on a shared coaxial cable, essentially the same infrastructure used for residential internet in the neighborhood.
Takeaway: When replacing legacy circuits, it’s not just about the service label (e.g., “Metro-E”)—it’s about the underlying infrastructure. Always validate what’s behind the curtain. Enterprise-grade reliability requires enterprise-grade delivery.
