What you cannot do is plug the fiber optic cable directly into a normal router. This is the part that trips people up. Here is the topic's answer before we get into the details: yes, you can absolutely use a normal router with a fiber optic internet connection. The fiber line terminates at the Optical Network Terminal (ONT), which is typically supplied and installed by the internet service provider. You need an intermediary device. This. A fiber optic service will require an "ONT" which connects to the fiber cable, and provides an Ethernet port.