Short answer: AceTel’s two GPON ONTs with built-in 4G LTE Cat6, the TG960L and the TG900L, share the same GPON port, LTE modem, ports, voice and housing. The difference is the Wi-Fi: the TG960L has AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 with EasyMesh, the TG900L has AC1200 dual-band Wi-Fi 5. Pick the TG960L when subscribers will use a lot of Wi-Fi devices or you plan to sell mesh coverage. Pick the TG900L when the fiber plan is modest and unit cost matters more.
The rest of this guide explains why, and what to check before you order samples.
Why put LTE inside a GPON ONT
A normal fiber install is one ONT plus a Wi-Fi router, and any mobile connection means a third box with its own power supply and its own SIM management. An ONT with a built-in LTE modem puts the GPON terminal, the router, the Wi-Fi radios and the LTE Cat6 modem in one housing, so there is one device to ship, install and support.
The datasheets describe the LTE modem as a second connection alongside GPON. They do not describe how traffic is switched between the two, so treat the WAN policy (fiber first, LTE only when fiber is down, or something else) as something to confirm on the firmware version you will deploy. If automatic failover is a hard requirement for your SLA, ask for it in writing and test it on a sample.
TG960L vs TG900L at a glance
| TG960L | TG900L | |
|---|---|---|
| GPON | SC/APC, ITU-T G.984.1-G.984.4, 2.5 Gbps down / 1.25 Gbps up, 20 km | Same |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g/n/ac/ax, up to 3000 Mbps (AX3000), EasyMesh | 802.11b/g/n/ac, 2.4 GHz up to 300 Mbps + 5 GHz up to 900 Mbps (AC1200) |
| Antennas | 4x 5dBi fixed external | Same |
| Ethernet | 2x 100/1000 Mbps LAN + 1x 100/1000 Mbps WAN | Same |
| Voice | 1x FXS, SIP (RFC 3261), G.729 / G.722 / G.711a / G.711 | Same |
| LTE | Cat6, SIM slot; FDD B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28, TDD B38/B40/B41; 2xCA; WCDMA B1/B5/B8 | Same |
| Management | OMCI, Web setup assistant, IPv4/IPv6, VLAN modes | Same |
| Power / size | DC 12V 1.5A, 210 x 130 x 40 mm | Same |
| Operating temperature | 0 to 40°C | Same |
| Certifications | CE, RoHS | Same |
Because everything except the Wi-Fi is the same, the choice comes down to one question: how much wireless performance does your subscriber plan actually need?
Choosing on Wi-Fi: AX3000 or AC1200
The 3000 Mbps and 1200 Mbps figures are rated link rates for the radio, not what a phone or laptop will see. Real throughput depends on distance, walls, client devices and interference, and the TG900L figure is the sum of 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 900 Mbps on 5 GHz.
Practical guidance:
- Gigabit-class fiber plans, many connected devices, or 4K streaming plus gaming at once: the TG960L’s Wi-Fi 6 radio has more headroom, and Wi-Fi 6 clients are now common.
- Mesh coverage as a paid add-on: EasyMesh is listed on the TG960L only.
- Entry or mid-tier fiber plans and cost-driven rollouts: the TG900L carries the same fiber, LTE and voice features at a lower Wi-Fi tier.
- Security: both datasheets list WEP, WPA/WPA2 and WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK. If your operator policy requires WPA3, raise it before ordering so it can be checked on the firmware.
Check the LTE bands before anything else
LTE only helps if the modem supports your operator’s bands. Both units list FDD B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28 and TDD B38/B40/B41, with 2xCA combinations and WCDMA fallback on B1/B5/B8. That set suits many networks in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. It does not include North American LTE bands such as B2, B4, B12, B13 or B66, so North American operators should ask about a band variant first.
Pre-order checklist
- OLT interoperability: the ONTs follow ITU-T G.984 and use OMCI, but compatibility is confirmed per OLT. Test a sample against your OLT and provisioning profile.
- LTE bands: compare your operator’s bands with the list above.
- WAN policy: agree how fiber and LTE should behave together and confirm it on the firmware you will ship.
- SIM provisioning: decide who supplies SIM cards and APN settings, and whether APN defaults should be preset at the factory.
- Voice: one FXS port with SIP. If your subscribers need more than one analog line, this is not the right model.
- Wi-Fi tier: map AX3000 or AC1200 to your retail plans.
- Branding: logo, packaging and firmware defaults can be customized through our White Label Program.
Common questions
Can the TG900L and TG960L be used without a SIM card?
Yes, the GPON, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and FXS functions do not depend on the LTE modem. The SIM slot is only needed when you want the LTE connection.
Do I need a different Wi-Fi router in front of these ONTs?
No. Both include the Wi-Fi radios, DHCP, firewall and routing features, so a separate router is not required for a standard home or small-office install.
What if I only need fiber, with four LAN ports?
Then the LTE modem is unused cost. Look at the TG6241C GPON ONU, which has four Gigabit LAN ports and Wi-Fi 6 without LTE.
Is this the same idea as a hybrid DSL plus LTE gateway?
Similar thinking, different access network. AceTel’s M981 Hybrid VDSL2/LTE Router pairs copper VDSL2 with LTE the same way these pair GPON fiber with LTE.
Request samples
To compare the TG960L and TG900L on your own OLT, request evaluation samples through the TG960L or TG900L product pages, or write to [email protected] with your operator, target country and quantity.
Technical insight published by AceTel's Field Application Engineering (FAE) and Hardware Architecture team. Tested across 3GPP and carrier-grade RF laboratory standards. Have project questions? Consult our engineers.
