Optic Fiber Network (OpenNet) for Home

Step 1: Optic Fiber Termination Point
After the nation wide Optic Fiber roll out, your home is likely scheduled for the installation of the Optical Network Termination Point (OTP). After free installation of the OTP by OpenNet vendor, you can proceed to any of the local telcos to sign up for a fiber broadband plan.
I signed up for a 50Mbps plan from M1 at S$39 per month, contractual period of 24 months.

Step 2: Nucleus Connect modem

After signing up for a fiber plan with any of the telco, your telco will arrange an installation of the nucleus connect modem for you at your home. This will usually take a few days to a few weeks. I waiting for 3 weeks due to the overly popular subscription at June PC Show.
The package usually comes with a nucleus connect (modem) and a Residential Gateway (wireless router). The nucleus connect is a must to tap the network from the OTP and consists of 4 LAN ports out. However, not all LAN ports work. Each LAN port is dedicated to each telco; M1 uses port 1. All telco uses the same Huawei nucleus connect modem installed by the same 3rd party vendor.
The Residential Gateway is not a mandatory device. It is essentially a wireless router that receives the connection from the modem and shares it over the router's ports and wireless access point.
Singtel and Starhub bundles the Residential Gateway with the contract, however, M1 gives the option to rent it at $2 per month.

Step 3: Router

If you have an existing router, you can use it and give the Residential Gateway a miss. I saved $2 per month and chose to use my old ZyXEL wireless-G router.
Setting it up is as easy as connecting the RJ45 cable from output port 1 of nucleus connect, to the WAN port on the router.
Any hardware can then be hooked up to the output LAN ports of the router via RJ45 cable, to tap the maximum speed of the network. I managed to hit more than expected 50Mbps dl speed and double the upload speed.
If you connect your device to the router via wireless network or WiFi, you are limited by the WiFi device speed. Remember that the bottleneck is always the slower, i.e. the transmitter or recipient device. This will usually be your laptop's wireless adaptor.
I hit around 7Mbps dl speed over the WiFi network from my wireless G router.
So before you head out to buy a good N router, remember that of your laptop only receives at G, you do not benefit more.

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