I am asking you about home fiber internet service.
I am asking you about home fiber internet service.
I'm switching over to fiber internet. Do I need a new fiber modem, or do I just need something else?
It all comes down to your Internet Service Provider and what they need you to do. Usually, they'll just give you everything that's necessary to make sure your computer gets a clear signal.
You always need a device to bring internet into your home. Most computers and house routers use ethernet, but that cable is limited to about 100 meters. Since there are not many people in an ISP office nearby, you need something special to get the signal from the office to your house. There is usually a device that turns a cable or fiber or radio signal into ethernet. People often call this box a modem even though it's a different thing because it does similar work. For fiber, they put a box called an ONT in there (which just means optical network terminal), but that name is too vague since there are many types of fiber. You probably don't need to worry about buying this; the ISP usually gives you the setup. I've seen posts here from people living in India who buy routers with optical ports. In that case, the ISP should have a list of routers that work on their system.
It is known as an ONT when talking to internet service provider people. It works differently depending on which ISP you use and what kind of equipment they put on your side. Some ISPs give out their own special models, while others let you pick any device that fits the job.
I know with AT&T at least, the modem and router come included in my monthly bill. The company doesn't charge extra for the hardware, so it's essentially free. I could buy a different router with an optical port, but I haven't really needed to do that here. The main benefit is better security because the official units are probably more likely to get hacked than my own choice. On the downside, there was initial setup work involved. When I had Comcast back then, they charged separately for the modem, so I bought a netgear DOCSIS 3.0 unit and saved $8 per month every month until their introductory price went up. With Comcast today, they don't officially install non-standard units like mine, which makes me have to call them in often just to get speed upgrades that didn't work before. They only update my settings if I use a model they approved, so sometimes the updates send signals that hurt my connection.