I have the separate modem / router and I'm using my own router.
I guess the advantage of separate modem is that the one I have has the VoIP jack so you can still keep the VoIP service.
I don't know anything about the 2 in 1.

It's been a while I looked into the whole FTTR solution and it's pros and cons.
(I didn't see the point for my place since I've already laid out CAT-5e during renovation previously).

Anyway, for anyone wanting a more technical explanation, I went down the rabbit hole trying to understand the FTTR stack and why someone will be stuck with this solution once you commit to it.

Basically the issue comes down to the use of the single flexible fiber for connecting the main unit to the end points. The single fiber requires the use of bi-directional optical signalling over the one fiber.

Currently the most common network equipment that operate with multiple optical signals (wavelengths) over the same fiber is GPON technology, so the FTTR equipment basically extending GPON to the room.

There are bi-directional (dual-wavelength) SFPs available for Ethernet switches/routers, but I don't believe that they will work over the fibers used in FTTR.

There is also an alternate Polymer Optical Fiber (POF) technology but that uses a different type of fiber than what is used for FTTR AFAIK and is not (yet) bidirectional. In addition, I have not even heard anyone talk about POF for home networking around here.

This post has been edited by tcwan: Nov 12 2025, 10:29 AM

Hmm. I'm a bit wary of using bidi SFPs with fiber that was not designed for it (Note: this not my area of expertise). Mainly because of the laser power output, since it's going to be ~ 100 m while the SFP optical receivers I referenced are rated for > 3 km. If there are bidi SFP versions for in-building connections of 100 - 500 m then that would be possible I guess.

Edit: Apparently, the minimum fiber distance can be 2 m even for long range SFP modules. So maybe the FTTR fiber can be reused after all (barring connector mismatch issues etc assuming that you can re-terminate them).

This post has been edited by tcwan: Nov 12 2025, 02:01 PM