Understanding OFNL broadband
A practical guide to choosing speeds, setting up your router and finding help
Editorial responsibility: OFNL Compare (Built By Board Ltd).
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From the fibre connection to your devices
On an OFNL connection, fibre enters the property at an optical network terminal (ONT). Your router connects to the ONT with an Ethernet cable, then provides your home network. The ONT and router have different jobs: working fibre equipment does not guarantee a strong Wi-Fi signal in every room. Source: OFNL welcome guide.
Choose the package speed for your household
| Measure | What it describes | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Download speed (Mbps) | How quickly data reaches you | Streaming, large downloads and the devices used at the same time. |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | How quickly you send data | Video calls, cloud backups and sending large files. |
| Latency (milliseconds) | The delay for data travelling to a destination | A higher download tier alone does not promise lower gaming latency. |
| Wi-Fi coverage | The wireless connection inside your home | Router placement, walls, device capabilities and whether wired connections are practical. |
Compare the published retail speed tier and the estimate or guarantee in the provider's offer. Equal upload and download speeds are only included where a package says so. Laboratory fibre-capacity figures are not useful estimates of the broadband speed a household can buy.
For example, Netflix recommends 15 Mbps for one 4K stream. Two such streams require at least 30 Mbps under that recommendation, before allowing capacity for other activity. This is planning arithmetic, not a guarantee of the quality any package will deliver. See our TV streaming guide for service-specific requirements.
Before you order
- Confirm the address. Check availability and the maximum offered speed with the provider, particularly for a new property.
- Compare the contract. Check minimum-term cost, future price changes, setup charges and whether equipment is included.
- Ask about your own router. Confirm the required settings and whether the provider supports customer-owned equipment.
- Confirm activation. Arrange the date and ask whether the ONT is present and ready or an appointment is needed.
Connect your router
Follow the instructions for your provider and equipment model. The usual connection is an Ethernet cable from the designated ONT LAN port to the router WAN port. Both devices need power, and the broadband service must be activated. Do not assume every ONT port is active. The OFNL welcome guide illustrates the setup.
If the connection is slow or not working
- Check power and Ethernet connections, then compare the indicator lights with the guide for your ONT model. Light labels and meanings can vary.
- Test a device connected to the router by Ethernet, if possible. Compare this with Wi-Fi in the affected room.
- Pause large downloads on other devices while diagnosing the issue. Record when it happens and any error message.
- Contact your broadband provider with those details. OFNL directs residents to their provider for service and account support. Source: OFNL resident FAQs.
Our speed test measures the connection available to the device running it at that moment. Its result can include Wi-Fi, device and test-server limits; it is not an independent audit of a provider's whole network.