Techniques are described to provide for state machine handling at a proxy node in an Ethernet-based fronthaul network. In one example, a method includes performing, by a proxy node of a fronthaul network, negotiation operations associated with establishing a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) communication link between radio devices of the fronthaul network, wherein the negotiation operations comprise Layer 1 synchronization operations and Radio over Ethernet (RoE) validation operations for one or more link bit rates; and facilitating communications between the radio devices at a matching link bit rate upon completion of the negotiation operations.