The fiber optic cable does not plug directly into a standard home router because the signal type must be translated. The fiber line terminates at the Optical Network Terminal (ONT), which is typically supplied and installed by the internet service provider. This specialized equipment serves as the. Fiber Optic Modem: This device is essential for translating the optical signals from the fiber optic cable into usable internet data. Your internet service provider (ISP) usually supplies this. Understand the Basics Before diving in, familiarize yourself with the components involved:. To connect a fiber optic cable to a router, you will need a fiber optic transceiver that converts the optical signal to an electrical signal compatible with the router's Ethernet port.