Stupid FTTH question

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China (Qinhuangdao)
I've just been told I can have FTTH installed in my new apartment. My stupid question is, what type of router do I need? Am I right in thinking I need a VDSL router?

There are two speeds, 20M and 50M. They told me the maximum I can have is 20M, not sure why as it's a brand new apartment in the heart of the city. Also, no mention of upload speed.
 
FTTH will probably be presented as Ethernet so you'll need a router with an Ethernet WAN port. They're usually sold as 'cable' routers.

I'd wait and see before spending any money.
 
Where did I say VDSL2 is FTTH exactly?

I didn't so maybe YOU should try reading before you start shooting your mouth off!

FTTH/FTTP uses an ONT modem which will work with a VDSL2 wireless router.
 
The OP is in China so the exact termination details are going to be a bit of guess. Most likely it'll be Ethernet.

Even if it was in this country it'd be an Ethernet connection. BT may choose to use the same VDSL2 capable router as they do on FTTC connections but they don't use any of the VDSL2 features.

The only way the OP is likely to be able to use a VDSL2 capable router is if it also has an Ethernet WAN port. If the VDSL2 modem can't be used why would the OP want one?
 
Where did I say VDSL2 is FTTH exactly?

I didn't so maybe YOU should try reading before you start shooting your mouth off!

FTTH/FTTP uses an ONT modem which will work with a VDSL2 wireless router.

Erm, nope. Fibre circuits will more than likely be presented as Ethernet. If the VDSL2 router can't be set to use an Ethernet port for WAN then it won't work.
 
I didn't notice he was in China, but a lot of the VDSL routers have ethernet WAN over here, so you can't say nope really can you.

I would consider one even if I was able to get FTTP as in the future I may move to an area with only FTTC.
 
I can say nope because a VDSL2 router isn't guaranteed to have an ethernet WAN port.

I understand the initial error but stop trying to defend it in a combative tone. Let's base our replies on facts.

OP: Any router that can handle the throughput of the service you are intending to order and has a WAN port that is compatible with how your service is presented will be fine. But nobody can give you a model number that is guaranteed to work without more information.
 
Depends if the router with the SFP slot is compatible with the network and if it can support the VLANs / other authentication methods used by the ISP.

Most residential FTTP deployments are PON whereas the more businessy leased line services use active equipment so you'd need optics compatible with this.

Ultimately if the ISP contract says you have to use their gear and they have a way of checking then it doesn't matter what your router is capable of. If they are also required by law to provide an analogue telephone line to enable you to contact the emergency services then a battery-backed ONT will be the device that handles that, so I could see why they would be against you trying to swap it for your own kit.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone.

So I guess because it's a bit of an unknown out here, it's best to wait and see what gets installed. There are three ISPs here, China Unicom, China Mobile and China Telecom. I will probably go with China Unicom, as they are my mobile provider, and there are some good packages combining both.

When you buy an apartment out here it's just a bare shell, so I still have to decorate it, put down the floors, install doors, etc. so still a couple of months off. Just getting a little overly-excited at moving into a new apartment!

I still have other things to think about, like whether to fit network sockets in all the rooms, or rely on WiFi. Because it's a fairly small apartment (138 sq.metres) I'm thinking I probably won't need network sockets everywhere.
 
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