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Comment by the_mitsuhiko | Hacker News Reader

> In some places it sounds like the ONT is integrated with the router (like with DOCSIS), and being forced to use the ISP’s router is a problem.

I agree, and that is a problem. The rules and regulations are different in different countries. In Austria for instance the ISP can force you to use a specific DOCSIS modem or ONT but they have to provide you with a transparent way to connect to it (bridge mode etc.). Which from where I'm standing is a good tradeoff because it gives the ISP the flexibility to do mass migrations without having to consider very old deployed infrastructure.

With PON I think it doesn't matter all _that_ much but for instance people running ancient DOCSIS modems and limited frequency availability has been a massive pain for people stuck with DOCSIS infrastructure that want more upstream and can't.

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This is the same in Spain: ISP-provided ont/router combos are fine but they must have a bridge mode (you may have to call support to enable it).

So at least in Portugal, my ISP gives me their device, it has a bridge mode, but it also serves as their wifi access point network (think Xfinity wifi) -- which I don't object to except that their wifi can't be disabled and their signal interferes with my wifi access points.

I want a dumb gpon sfp not because they won't give me a bridge, but because their bridge makes too much noise.

I have to wonder, why can't their wi-fi be disabled? Is it one of those scenarios where it is being used to support other ISP customers in your area?

My ISP (note: also owned by my employer) doesn't have this, so the modem I've got is theirs, but I can disable wi-fi. I do, too, so the only client on this thing is my firewall. I assume that everything past my firewall could potentially be hostile.

>but they have to provide you with a transparent way to connect to it

Can you provide the source for that? Because the Wifi 6 enabled Modem from Magenta doesn't support bridge mode.

> Can you provide the source for that?

There has not been an official ruling, but that was not necessary because there is a soft commitment by ISPs to provide bridge mode which was enough for the RTR: https://www.rtr.at/TKP/was_wir_tun/telekommunikation/konsume...

But they are very explicit:

> Gleichzeitig gibt es eine gesetzlich garantierte Endgerätefreiheit (Art. 3 Abs. 1 TSM-VO). Auf Grund dieser haben alle Nutzer:innen das Recht, einen Router ihrer Wahl zu verwenden. Stellt der Anbieter einen Router mit integriertem Modem zur Verfügung, muss es möglich sein, diesen Router in den sogenannten "Brigde-Modus" zu schalten.

> Because the Wifi 6 enabled Modem from Magenta doesn't support bridge mode.

It does. Call customer support and they enable it for you. It turns into a dumb modem afterwards behind which you need to put your own infrastructure.

It's also mentioned on their FAQ: https://www.magenta.at/faq/entry/~technische-anfrage~kabelin...

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