September 11, 2026
This article is designed to help customers who was to use their own router, firewall or switch with our leased line service. It outlines the available handover types, the technical requirements for each and everything you need for successful setup.
While we provide the necessary IP details and handover specifications, you’re responsible for the configuration of your own equipment. This guide will help you make sure you have the right hardware, understand the IP addressing model and are prepared to connect confidently to our network.
Please refer to your handover documentation or ask your order owner for which type of connection we’ve installed
Copper (RJ45 ethernet)
Description:
- Delivered via a standard RJ45 ethernet port
- Uses twisted pair copper cable
- Most common for short-distance handovers
What you need:
- A router, firewall or switch with a Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port
- No SFP module required
- A standard Cat5e or Cat6 ethernet cable
Typical use case:
- Office environments with short cable runs
- Plug-and-play setup with minimal configuration
Fibre - single mode (LC connector)
Description:
- Delivered via single mode fibre optic cable
- Uses LC connector
- Supports long-distance transmission
- Narrow laser beam for high precision
What you need:
- A router, firewall or switch with an SFP port
- A single mode SFP module
- A single mode fibre patch cable with LC connectors
Typical use case:
- Large campuses, data centres or long-haul links
High-speed backbone connections
Fibre - multi mode (LC connector)
Description:
- Delivered via multi mode fibre optic cable
- Also uses LC connector
- Supports short-distance transmission
- Uses broader LED or VCSEL light source
What you need:
- A router, firewall or switch with an SFP port
- A multi mode SFP module
- A multi mode fibre patch cable
Summary table
| Handover Type | Connector | Fibre type | SFP module needed | Cable needed |
| Copper (RJ45) | RJ45 | N/A | None | Cat5e/Cat6 ethernet cable |
| Fibre – single Mode | LC | Single mode | Single mode SFP | Single mode fibre patch cable |
| Fibre – multi mode | LC | Multi mode | Multi mode SFP | Multi mode fibre patch cable |
Support boundaries
We’re happy to provide the technical details you need to connect your equipment such as IP addressing and handover type, but we don’t offer support for configuring customer-owned routers, firewalls or switches. You’re responsible for setting up and managing your own devices.
Need help with configuration? In exceptional cases, support may be available for an extra cost. Please get in touch with your account manager to discuss your options
IP addressing and configuration
Our standard setup includes:
- Point-to-point (P2P) IP address: assigned to the interface connecting to our network termination equipment (NTE)
- Customer LAN IP range: routed over the P2P link for internal use
Customer responsibilities:
- Configure your device with the provided P2P IP on the WAN interface
- Set up routing or NAT to utilise your LAN IP range
If you need a different IP setup (e.g., bridged mode, static routing), please let us know during provisioning
Speed and hardware compatibility
Leased lines are available in various bearer speeds (e.g., 100Mbps, 1Gbps, 10Gbps).
To ensure optimal performance:
- Check your device specs: your router, firewall or switch must support the speed of your leased line
- Verify port types: ensure your equipment has the correct interface (RJ45 or SFP) and compatible modules
- Avoid bottlenecks: older or underpowered devices may struggle with high-throughput connections
Jargon buster: technical terms and acronyms
| Term / acronym | Meaning |
| Leased line | A dedicated, symmetric internet connection between two locations |
| Router | A device that connects networks and directs traffic |
| Firewall | A security device that controls incoming/outgoing network traffic |
| RJ45 | Standard ethernet connector used for copper handover |
| LC connector | Small form-factor fibre connector used for single/multi mode fibre |
| SFP module | Small form-factor pluggable transceiver: plugs in to routers/switches |
| Single mode fibre | Fibre optic cable for long distances: uses narrow laser light |
| Multi mode fibre | Fibre optic cable for short distances: uses broader LED light |
| Symmetric speed | Upload and download speeds are equal |
| Bearer speed | Maximum speed the circuit can support (e.g. 1Gbps) |
| Presentation | The physical format of the connection (copper/fibre, connector type) |
| IP allocation | Number of IP addresses assigned to the customer |
| VLAN | Virtual LAN: used to segment traffic on the same physical network |
| CPE | Customer premises equipment (e.g. router, firewall) |
| CDR | Committed data rate: guaranteed speed on the leased line |
