What is a modem?

While setting up your home, possibly one of the first things you may have done is set up an internet connection. However, one common confusion many people face while doing so, is the difference between a modem and a router, and jsut what the former does. Well, worry not though, for we’re here to tell you just that. 

What a modem is and what it does

A Modem is a device that modulates and demodulates signals for transmitting data over a communication channel. In fact, a modem is an acronym for “Modulator-Demodulator”.  In simple terms, it is a device that changes the nature of information for easier transmission and readability, from your ISP to your router.  

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 The primary function of a modem is to provide internet connectivity for a computer or network of computers. It modulates digital signals generated by the computer into analog signals that can be transmitted over a telephone line or cable and demodulate the incoming signals to recover the original digital data. The three most common types of modems available on the market are; cable modems, which are the oldest type of modems, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), and Fibre modems. 

How is a modem different from a router?

A modem is often confused with a router but these are two entirely different devices that perform different functions in a computer network. A router is something that connects multiple devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets, in a local area network (LAN) and enables communication between these devices and the Internet. In many cases, a modem and a router are combined into a single device, referred to as a modem/router combo or gateway.