What is the difference between a pre-fitted ONT and a router?
At Vfast we are often asked what the difference is between an ONT and a router, we hope you will find the following blog useful and answer any questions you may have.
If you are still unsure, the Vfast team are always available to help, please contact us on 01227 668901 / sales@vfast.co.uk.
A pre-fitted Optical Network Terminal (ONT) and a router serve different purposes in a telecommunications/internet network.
The key differences between the two are as follows:
- Functionality:
- Pre-fitted ONT: The Optical Network Terminal (ONT) is a device used in fibre-optic networks to convert optical signals into electrical signals that can be used by customer premises equipment, such as routers or computers. The ONT typically terminates the fibre-optic cable from the service provider and provides interfaces for connecting customer devices, such as Ethernet ports for wired connections or Wi-Fi for wireless connections.
- Router: A router is a networking device that connects multiple devices within a local area network (LAN) and forwards data packets between them. Routers typically provide functionalities such as network address translation (NAT), firewall protection, and DHCP server capabilities. They also allow devices within the LAN to communicate with devices on external networks, such as the internet.
- Connection to the Network:
- Pre-fitted ONT: The ONT is typically installed at a customer's premises by their ISP as part of the fibre internet installation. It is directly connected to the service provider's fibre-optic network and serves as the interface between the network and the customer's devices.
- Router: The router is connected to the ONT (or directly to the ISP’s network, depending on the network configuration) and serves as the central point for connecting multiple devices within the customer's premises to the internet. It typically connects to the ONT via an Ethernet cable or through a dedicated port provided by the ONT.
- Wireless router: creates WLANs (wireless local area networks), which connect a number of devices using wireless technology. Wireless routers use an ethernet cable to connect to your modem by distributing data by converting packets from binary code to radio signals.
- Wired router: a wired router also uses an ethernet cable to connect to a modem but creates a LAN (local area network) using separate cables to connect to one or numerous devices within the network.
- Network Management and Control:
- Pre-fitted ONT: The ONT primarily handles the conversion of optical signals to electrical signals and provides basic functionalities for connecting customer devices to the network. It typically does not have advanced network management capabilities such as routing, NAT, or firewall functionalities.
- Router: The router provides advanced network management and control features, such as routing data packets between devices within the LAN, managing IP addresses, and implementing security measures such as firewall rules and access control lists. Routers are responsible for controlling the flow of data between the customer's devices and the internet.
In short, a pre-fitted ONT serves as the connection between your internet provider and the customer's premises, converting optical signals to electrical signals and providing basic connectivity functionalities.
A router serves as the central networking device within the customer's premises, providing advanced network management features and enabling multiple devices to connect to the internet and communicate with one another.