Yeah the previous bypass used a certificate that you'd have to authenticate periodically via 802.1x. This new method does not have that requirement. Just need the specialized hardware for it, like that Azores d20 box or one of the SFP+ xgs-pon modules that you can program.
I've been using it without any intervention for a little over a 8 months now. Even have my /29 static IP block allocated on it, while still being able to also use the DHCP address they give out. You get to use the whole /29 too without the att box stealing one of them as well.
You aren't giving us enough information to even speculate the answer. Are these Enterprise grade servers in a datacenter? Are these home made servers with consumer or low grade hardware you're calling servers? Are they in the same datacenter or do they go out to the Internet? What exists between the hops on the network? Is the latency consistent? What is the quality of both sides of the connection? Fiber? Wi-Fi? Mobile? Satellite?
Does it drop too nothing or just settle into a constant slower speed? What have you tried to trouble shoot? Is it only rsync or do other tests between the hosts show the same behavior?
Give us more and you might get some help. If these hosts are Linux I would start with iperf to do a more scientific test. And report to us some more info.