Choosing a router for fibre-optic broadband: 7 factors that really matter

The role of the router in a fibre-optic network

When you connect to the Internet via fibre-optic, the optical cable runs directly to your flat or house. There, a special device is installed — a subscriber terminal (ONT/ONU) — which converts the light signal into a standard electrical signal. This device is also known as an optical network unit (ONU) or simply an ONU terminal. From there, the cable runs to the Wi-Fi router, which «distributes» the Internet throughout your home — either via a cable or wirelessly.

This is precisely why fibre-optic cable alone doesn’t guarantee that the Internet will be fast in every corner of your home. It depends on the router. And this is where the key point comes in.

How does a fibre-optic router differ from a standard one?

This is one of the most common questions — and the answer might surprise you. In fact, most modern Wi-Fi routers are suitable for fibre-optic connections, provided you understand the connection diagram correctly.

The thing is, with a standard fibre-optic connection to a router, the «fibre» isn’t plugged directly into the router. The fibre-optic cable first goes to the ONT/ONU terminal, and from there, a standard Ethernet cable connects to the router. In other words, the router «sees» a standard wired Internet connection, rather than a fibre-optic signal.

However, there is a separate category: routers with a fibre-optic (SPF) input or routers with an SFP slot. These have a built-in specialised connector — an SFP port — into which an SFP module is inserted, and the fibre-optic cable is connected directly to the router, without an external terminal. This is known as a direct connection (GPON) — a more compact solution favoured by advanced users where the amount of equipment needs to be minimised. Routers with an optical (SFP) input are more expensive, but for most home users they are not essential.

Which router specifications are important for fibre-optic broadband

Once you’ve sorted out the connection, it’s time to choose a specific device. The key here is not to get lost in the numbers and abbreviations on the box. So, the following specifications are important for a smooth fibre-optic broadband experience.

1. Gigabit ports

Every router has a WAN port — this is the input connector through which the cable from the fibre-optic terminal runs. It is through this port that the Internet «enters» the router. If this port only supports 100 Mbps, then even with a 500 or 1000 Mbps plan, you won’t get more than 100 Mbps. It’s like a wide river flowing into a narrow channel.

100 Mbps ports are a thing of the past, a relic of an era when «fast Internet» meant something quite different. Today, any modern router that claims to work with fibre-optic connections must have Gigabit ports — this is not a bonus or an advantage, but a basic requirement, without which the device is simply not worth considering.

What to look for: a router with Gigabit WAN ports — that is, a WAN port and LAN ports supporting Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps or 1 Gbps). If you’re planning to get a router for 1 Gbit fibre, this is a must. It’s easy to check: the specifications should state «Gigabit» or «1000M» next to the ports.

This is now standard for any modern mid-range router, so when choosing new networking equipment, make sure you check this first and foremost.

2. Wi-Fi standard

Fibre-optic broadband can deliver at least 1 Gbps to your home, but if your router uses an older Wi-Fi standard, your devices won’t be able to reach the speeds you need.

The current standards are:

• Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) — suitable for most home tasks: streaming, social media, and working from home. It provides good coverage for a flat of up to 60-80 square metres.
• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) — the next level. It handles multiple devices simultaneously better and experiences less «slowdown» at peak times when everyone in the household is online at the same time. It is this standard that Maxnet’s equipment supports as part of its Wi-Fi 6 service.
• Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) — the very latest standard, introduced in 2024. If you want to be future-proof for 5-7 years, this is the one to look at. But for most home uses, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) will be more than enough.

If your router was bought before 2015 and only supports Wi-Fi 4, that’s the first sign it’s time for an upgrade.

An important point: a Wi-Fi standard is always a two-way street. Even the most advanced router supporting Wi-Fi 7 won’t reach its full potential if your smartphone or laptop only supports Wi-Fi 5. In that case, the connection will simply adapt to the capabilities of the weaker device — and the speed will remain the same as before. Therefore, the new standard should be viewed not as an instant speed boost «here and now», but as a safeguard for the future: when you upgrade your phone or buy new devices, your router will already be ready to perform to its full potential.

3. Frequency range

Most modern routers operate on two frequencies simultaneously — such devices are known as dual-band routers:

• 2,4 ГГц — «long-range»; the signal passes through walls more effectively, but in blocks of flats this band is literally saturated with neighbours’ networks.
• 5 ГГц — fast and «cleaner», with fewer obstacles, but the signal struggles to penetrate thick walls and floors.

A dual-band router gives you a choice: the TV in the next room can use the 2.4 GHz band, whilst the laptop nearby can use the 5 GHz band. It’s like having two different lanes: you choose the one with the least traffic.

There’s also a category of tri-band routers — with three bands instead of two. Most often, this consists of one 2.4 GHz band and two separate 5 GHz bands. In practice, this means that the router can «split» devices into two independent groups within the same high-speed band: for example, one 5 GHz band serves computers and phones, whilst the second is dedicated entirely to a smart TV or games console, so that they do not «compete» for bandwidth. This is particularly relevant for large houses, offices or flats with a large number of simultaneously connected devices — in a typical studio flat with 5-7 gadgets, there’s little point in paying extra for a tri-band router.

4. Processor power and amount of RAM

This is a specification that is rarely mentioned, but it is very important. A router is essentially a small computer. It processes all requests from your devices, manages the network and distributes traffic. If it has a weak processor and insufficient memory, it will start to «struggle» under load: you’ll still have an Internet connection, but everything will slow down.

What to look for: a router with a dual-core or quad-core processor and at least 256 MB of RAM. If you have 10 or more devices in your home, 512 MB or more is preferable.

5. Number of antennas and MU-MIMO technology

Antennas determine the strength and coverage area of a Wi-Fi signal. The more antennas there are, the wider the coverage area and the more stable the signal in different corners of the room.

But even more important is support for MU-MIMO (Multiple User, Multiple Input, Multiple Output). This is a technology that allows the router to «communicate» with several devices at the same time, rather than one at a time. Without it, the router is like a teacher who answers pupils’ questions one at a time. With MU-MIMO, it can answer several at once.

For a studio flat with 3-5 devices, this isn’t a major issue. But if you have a large family, lots of gadgets and a smart TV as well, MU-MIMO becomes a significant advantage.

6. A fibre-optic router with a built-in battery

We wouldn’t have mentioned this feature a few years ago, but today it matters. Most routers are powered by a 220 V mains supply, so if the power goes out, the Internet goes down too.

There are routers that have a built-in battery or support power via USB — from a power bank. A fibre-optic router with a battery allows you to keep using the Internet for a few more hours during power cuts without any additional devices.

By the way, if you have a GPON connection from Maxnet, the provider has a backup power supply that lasts up to 72 hours. This means that you’ll still have a signal even if there’s a power cut in your area — the main thing is that your router can also run off its own power. All you need to do is connect it to a standard power bank using a USB-DC cable.

7. Compatibility with xPON standards

Fibre-optic Internet is not a single standard, but a whole family of technologies collectively known as xPON. The most common of these are:

• GEPON (EPON)— widely used in Ukraine in the early years of fibre-optic roll-out, and still found with some providers today.
• GPON — currently the most widespread standard, offering download speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps. This is the standard used by Maxnet.
• XG-PON, XGSPON — the next generation, offering speeds of up to 10 Gbps. This standard is still rare in home networks, but is gradually being adopted by leading providers.

Why is this important when choosing a router? If you’re buying a router with a built-in SFP module for a direct connection without an external terminal, it must support the exact standard used by your provider. A GPON module won’t work on a GEPON network, and vice versa. If, however, you have a standard setup with a separate ONT terminal, this issue is resolved: the router «sees» only standard Ethernet, and the xPON standard is irrelevant to it.

Popular routers with fibre support

Among the router models that support fibre-optic connections, we recommend taking a look at the Keenetic Hero. It is equipped with a combined RJ-45/SFP port, supports Wi-Fi 6 and Mesh networks, and is a good choice for a home or small office if you need a modern solution capable of operating via a fibre module.

Another popular option is MikroTik. Thanks to their extensive network configuration options, this manufacturer’s routers with SFP ports are often chosen by experienced users and system administrators. At the same time, for a direct GPON connection, you must take into account your specific provider’s requirements regarding authorisation and the compatibility of the optical module; therefore, such solutions are better suited to users who have experience working with network equipment.

Summary: which router specifications to look out for

To help you make sense of all the router model specifications, here’s a quick guide:

A good router isn’t a luxury, but a logical complement to a high-quality Internet connection. After all, there’s no point in paying for a fast broadband package if an outdated Wi-Fi router «eats up» half that speed before it even reaches your smartphone or laptop.

If you’re not yet connected to fibre-optic broadband or want to switch to a more modern solution, Maxnet’s GPON broadband with speeds of up to 1 Gbps is available in Kharkiv, Pisochyn and Tsyrkuny. And our company’s specialists will help you choose the networking equipment that best suits your specific plan and premises.