Guide
Fiber vs Ethernet over Copper
Copper Ethernet is a shrinking option kept alive by buildings fiber has not reached.
Copper Ethernet is a shrinking option kept alive by buildings fiber has not reached.
What EoC is
Ethernet over copper bonds multiple copper pairs into one Ethernet circuit. It delivers a real dedicated service with an SLA over the copper already in the building.
It exists for one reason. The copper is already there and the fiber is not.
The ceiling
Bandwidth is limited by distance from the carrier equipment and by how many clean pairs exist. Ten to fifty megabits is typical. A hundred is a stretch. Beyond that, copper is not the answer.
That was acceptable in 2012. For most businesses now it is not enough headroom to be worth signing three years for.
The part nobody mentions until it happens
Carriers are actively retiring copper. Once a wire center is scheduled for decommissioning, EoC services on it are not renewed, and the migration timeline is the carrier's, not yours.
If you are on EoC today, the useful question is not whether to move. It is whether you move on your schedule or theirs.
When EoC still makes sense
- Fiber to the building would require construction you cannot justify or cannot get landlord approval for.
- You need a real SLA at a modest speed and nothing else reaches the address.
- Short term bridge while fiber construction runs.
Common questions
Is EoC the same as DSL?
No. DSL is shared, asymmetrical, and best effort. EoC is dedicated, symmetrical, and carries an SLA. It is a business product built on the same physical copper.
Should I renew an EoC contract?
Check whether fiber has reached the building since you last asked. In most metros the answer has changed within the last three years.