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The white box installed on your wall for full-fibre broadband is usually an Optical Network Terminal (ONT). It terminates the fibre entering your home and converts the optical signal into Ethernet. It is not your Wi-Fi router and, in practical terms, is not a traditional DSL modem. An Ethernet cable runs from the ONT to the router’s WAN or Internet port; the router then creates your home network, Wi-Fi and wired connections.
The normal chain is fibre network → ONT optical port → ONT LAN/Data port → router WAN/Internet port → Wi-Fi and wired devices. Once you understand that division of labour, installation, router replacement and most connection faults become much easier to diagnose.
What FTTP changes inside your home
FTTP (Fibre to the Premises), also called Full Fibre, carries the broadband signal over optical fibre all the way to your property. Unlike a copper-based broadband service, the fibre does not terminate at a street cabinet with a final copper run to your home. The fibre enters the premises and ends at an ONT, normally mounted on an interior wall.
The ONT is the hand-off between the provider’s fibre network and your own equipment. Its optical electronics receive light signals from the network and present the connection to your router as Ethernet. Your router handles the rest of the home-network work: authentication where required, routing between your local devices and the internet, firewall functions, Wi-Fi radio, and Ethernet ports for wired devices.
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That is why a full-fibre installation can have two separate boxes even though older broadband installations often used one combined modem-router. The ONT is the fibre termination device; the router is the home networking device.
What each box does
The fibre line
The fibre cable carries data as pulses of light from the access network to the premises. It does not provide Wi-Fi, Ethernet sockets or a usable connection for ordinary computers by itself. Fibre should not be sharply bent, crushed or disconnected from the optical port; the glass inside is more delicate than a normal network cable.
The ONT
The ONT (Optical Network Terminal) converts the incoming optical signal into Ethernet. It is the fixed fibre endpoint in the property and normally has a power connection, an optical fibre port and one or more Ethernet data ports. Some installations also expose a telephone port for a provider’s digital voice service.
On a typical Openreach installation, the active customer connection is presented through Ethernet port 1. The ONT does not normally supply Wi-Fi, provide multiple household network functions or replace the router. If the ONT loses power, the broadband connection stops even if the router itself remains switched on.
The router
The router connects its WAN/Internet port to the ONT’s Ethernet data port. It establishes the provider connection, creates your private home network, assigns local addresses, offers firewall and routing functions, and usually supplies Wi-Fi. Its remaining LAN ports can connect televisions, desktop computers, switches and access points with Ethernet.
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Mesh nodes and access points
Optional mesh nodes or wired access points extend wireless coverage to rooms that the main router cannot serve reliably. They do not terminate the fibre and cannot replace the ONT. A mesh system still needs one primary router, or a device configured to perform the router role, connected to the ONT.
| Equipment | Primary job | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre line | Carries the optical broadband signal to the premises | Does not provide Wi-Fi or ordinary Ethernet service by itself |
| ONT | Terminates the fibre and converts optical data to Ethernet | Is not the household Wi-Fi router |
| Router | Establishes the WAN connection, routes traffic, provides Wi-Fi and LAN ports | Does not normally replace the property-installed ONT |
| Mesh node or access point | Extends Wi-Fi coverage | Does not replace the ONT or the primary router |
Is the ONT a modem?
You may hear the ONT called an “Openreach modem”, including in some provider documentation. That label refers to the same fibre termination equipment, but it can be misleading when you are deciding what to buy. The ONT performs the network-termination and signal-conversion role that a modem performs for the access link, yet it is not a traditional copper DSL modem and it is not a Wi-Fi router.
A separate DSL modem is used for ADSL or FTTC-style services that arrive over copper telephone wiring. Standard FTTP normally does not need one. The provider’s router connects directly to the ONT with Ethernet. Buying a DSL modem for a full-fibre line will not make it compatible unless that device also has an Ethernet WAN function and supports the provider’s requirements.
Which box provides Wi-Fi?
The router provides Wi-Fi. The ONT’s lights and Ethernet socket may show that the fibre service is working, but the ONT does not broadcast a wireless network. If you can see a network name in your phone or laptop’s Wi-Fi list, that signal is coming from the router or from a mesh/access-point system connected to it.
This distinction also explains a common fault pattern: a router can show no internet while its Wi-Fi remains visible, or the ONT can show a healthy optical link while a room has weak wireless coverage. Those are different layers of the connection and require different fixes.
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How an FTTP installation is arranged
Where the equipment goes
An installer brings the fibre into the property and fits the ONT inside, usually near a suitable power socket and a practical route for the Ethernet cable to the router. The exact position depends on the entry point, internal routing and the provider’s installation rules. Openreach describes a typical installation as taking one to four hours, although property layout and cable routing can make the appointment shorter or longer.
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- Optical/fibre port: the thin fibre lead from the outside network terminates here. Do not use it for an Ethernet cable.
- Ethernet or LAN/Data port: this is the hand-off to the router. On common Openreach installations, Ethernet port 1 is the active port.
- Telephone port: present on supported installations for a provider’s voice service; it is not another internet socket.
- Power input: the ONT must remain powered for broadband to operate.
What the lights mean
Light labels vary by ONT model, but the basic checks are consistent. In Openreach setup guidance, a solid PON light and solid LAN light indicate a working optical and Ethernet link. A flashing PON light or a red LOS (loss of signal) light can indicate a fibre or line problem. Treat the guide for your exact ONT as authoritative, because startup and fault patterns differ between models.
Connect the supplied router
- Leave the ONT connected to its power supply and leave the fibre lead in the optical port.
- Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the ONT’s active LAN/Data socket, normally Ethernet port 1 on a standard Openreach installation.
- Plug the other end into the router port labelled WAN, Internet or sometimes with a globe symbol. Do not use one of the router’s numbered LAN ports for this uplink.
- Power on the router and wait for it to complete startup. The provider may require an activation period or an account-specific setup process.
- Use the router’s app or web interface to set the Wi-Fi name and password if the provider has not already configured them.
- Connect a phone or computer to Wi-Fi, or connect a wired device to a router LAN port, and test more than one website.
A sound Ethernet cable is important. A Cat6 patch cable is a sensible choice for a modern full-fibre connection, but the cable must also be fully seated at both ends. Replacing the cable is an early, low-risk test when the ONT’s LAN light is off or the router reports no Ethernet link.
Can you use your own router?
Often, yes. A third-party router can replace an ISP hub when the provider permits customer-owned equipment and supplies the necessary connection details. The replacement must have an Ethernet WAN port; a device designed only for an incoming DSL phone line cannot connect directly to the ONT.
Some providers use PPPoE authentication, and some require a particular VLAN setting. TP-Link’s FTTP guidance, for example, documents a direct connection to the Openreach ONT and notes that PPPoE credentials and VLAN information may be required. These values are provider-specific, so check the ISP’s technical requirements before buying or configuring a router.
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Check these specifications first
- An Ethernet WAN/Internet port that supports the speed of your broadband package.
- PPPoE support if your provider uses a username and password rather than automatic IP configuration.
- VLAN tagging support if the provider specifies a VLAN ID.
- A way to configure IPv4 and IPv6 settings required by the ISP.
- Enough LAN ports, or compatibility with a separate Ethernet switch, for your wired devices.
- Wi-Fi coverage appropriate to the property, with a compatible mesh option if one router is not enough.
After configuration, connect the new router to the same ONT Ethernet port. Do not remove, reset or attempt to replace the ONT itself. If the provider requires its hub for voice service, remote diagnostics or a particular television package, ask whether the hub must remain in the network or whether bridge/modem-only operation is supported.
FTTP and FTTC: why the boxes differ
| Characteristic | FTTP (Full Fibre) | FTTC or DSL-style service |
|---|---|---|
| Last link to the property | Fibre runs directly to the premises | Copper telephone wiring completes the final run |
| Termination inside the home | ONT presents Ethernet to the router | DSL modem synchronises with the copper line |
| Typical router connection | Ethernet cable from ONT to WAN port | DSL telephone cable to the modem/DSL port, unless an external modem is used |
| Separate traditional modem needed? | Normally no | Normally yes, integrated into a DSL router or supplied separately |
| Wi-Fi source | Router or mesh system | Router or mesh system |
The presence of a small white wall box is therefore a useful clue that the service is FTTP, but confirm the service type with the provider before changing equipment. Some buildings and providers use different fibre architectures and hardware.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot the connection in the right order
No lights on the ONT
Check the ONT’s power adapter, wall socket and any switched extension lead. If the unit remains dark, the issue is power or hardware rather than Wi-Fi settings. Do not substitute an arbitrary power supply; use the supplied unit or a provider-approved replacement.
Red LOS or flashing PON
Check that the fibre lead has not been pulled, sharply bent or displaced. Do not look into the fibre connector and do not repeatedly unplug it. A red LOS light or persistent flashing PON can indicate loss of optical signal, so report the condition to the broadband provider after confirming power and visible cable damage.
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Solid PON but no internet
A healthy optical light with no internet usually moves the investigation to the Ethernet link, router configuration or account activation. Confirm that the cable runs from the ONT’s active data port to the router’s WAN/Internet port, look for a LAN light on the ONT, restart the router, and verify any required PPPoE username, password or VLAN setting.
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Wi-Fi works nearby but not in other rooms
This is a coverage problem rather than an ONT problem. Reposition the router in an open, central location where possible, then consider a wired access point or compatible mesh node. Adding mesh equipment will not repair a failed optical link or incorrect WAN settings.
Only one wired device works
Test another Ethernet cable and another router LAN port. If the router’s own status page shows an internet connection but one device does not, investigate that device’s network adapter, address assignment and local firewall. If every device fails while the ONT’s optical status is healthy, focus on the router-to-ONT link and provider authentication.
What to do when changing provider or moving
Leave the ONT, its power supply and fixed cabling in place when you leave the property or change broadband provider. Openreach states that the equipment belongs with the property. A new provider may reuse the existing fibre termination, and removing it can delay activation or create an avoidable service visit.
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When changing routers, disconnect only the Ethernet cable between the ONT and router. Keep the ONT powered unless the provider specifically instructs you to switch it off. Label the ONT end of the cable if several network cables are present, particularly where a switch or mesh system is installed.
Quick Recap
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying a DSL modem: FTTP normally hands off over Ethernet, so a telephone-line modem is the wrong interface.
- Plugging into a LAN port: the router’s WAN/Internet port must connect to the ONT; numbered LAN ports are for devices inside your home.
- Expecting ONT Wi-Fi: wireless settings live on the router or access points.
- Unplugging the ONT permanently: broadband cannot operate without its powered fibre termination.
- Assuming every third-party router is plug-and-play: PPPoE credentials, VLAN tagging, IPv6 settings or provider-specific voice requirements may apply.
- Resetting equipment before recording settings: a factory reset can erase provider configuration. Record the model, lights and existing settings first.
The practical answer to each common question
- What is the white FTTP box? Usually the ONT, the fibre endpoint that converts optical data to Ethernet.
- Do you need a modem with full fibre? Not a separate traditional DSL modem. The ONT performs the fibre hand-off, and the router connects by Ethernet.
- Can you plug in your own router? Usually, provided it has Ethernet WAN and supports the provider’s authentication and VLAN requirements.
- What is the difference between an ONT and a router? The ONT terminates and converts the fibre signal; the router creates and manages your home network.
- Which box provides Wi-Fi? The router, or a mesh/access-point system connected to it.
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