According to various embodiments, a method for demarcating data bursts includes receiving, via a coax network, a first data burst and a second data burst at a network interface device, wherein the first data burst and the second data burst at least partially overlap in the time domain. In various embodiments, the first data burst includes a start marker, first data elements following the start marker, and an end marker following the first data elements. In various embodiments, the start marker is orthogonal to the end marker. The method further includes distinguishing, at the network interface device, the first data burst from the second data burst based on the start marker and the end marker; and transmitting the first data burst and the second data burst via an optical network such that the first data burst and the second data burst do not overlap in time.