ONT lights and their meanings

An Optical Network Terminal (ONT)—also known as Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)—is the small box installed inside your home that connects your fibre router to the wider fibre network. Think of it as the gateway between your home and the internet. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the different ONT devices used by our Fibre Network Operators (FNOs), explain how they work, and help you understand what the indicator lights on each device mean.

We’ve grouped the ONT devices by brand and indicated which Fibre Network Operators (FNOs) use them. Keep in mind that the same ONT brand and model may be used by multiple FNOs, so your device might look similar even if your provider is different.

1. CALIX: Frogfoot, MetroFibre, Vuma Villages

• • Power = Power status.
    • Green = ONT has power.
    • Off = ONT does not have power. Check that your ONT is plugged in and receiving power from the power supply.

• • Broadband = This light shows whether your connection to the upstream provider (such as Frogfoot, MetroFibre, or Vuma Villages) is active and online.
    • Green = Connected.
  • Red or off = This usually means your ONT isn’t detecting a connection to the fibre network. First, check that the thin fibre cable is securely plugged into the ONT and that it’s not bent, kinked, or damaged.

If the light turns green, your connection is restored. If it stays red or off, try rebooting both your ONT and your WiFi router.

Still no luck? Visit our Network Status page to check for any known issues in your area. If nothing is reported, please contact our Support team for further assistance.

• • Service = Indicates your connection to the Internet Service Provider (ISP).

o    Green = Connected.

o    Red or off = No connection. Try restarting both your ONT and WiFi router. If the light turns green, your internet connection should be restored.

If the light stays red, check our Network Status page for any known issues in your area. If no problems are reported, please contact our Support teamfor further assistance.

• • Ethernet = Shows whether the LAN cable is properly connected to your ONT.
    • Green = Connected.
    • Off = No data connection. Make sure the network cable connecting your ONT to your WiFi router is securely plugged in at both ends, and that your router is powered on.

Next, restart both the ONT and the router. If the light turns green, your internet connection should be back.

If the light stays off, inspect the cable for any visible damage and try using a different one if possible. If the light still doesn’t come on, a port may be faulty—please contact our Support team for assistance.

Are all the ONT lights on and stable? 

If all the lights on your ONT are on and stable, and there’s no reported outage in your area, try this quick reset:

1. 1. Unplug both your ONT and WiFi router from the power socket.
   2. Wait for 5–10 minutes.
   3. Plug them back in and allow a few minutes for the devices to reconnect.

This can often resolve temporary connection issues and get you back online.

2. CTC & RAYCORE: Vuma Trench or Vuma Core.

Vuma Trench (also known as Vuma core or Vuma Active Ethernet) may install any of the following ONT devices:

·         CTC.

·         Raycore.

Please note! 

This section does not include Vuma Aerial or Vuma Reach. Please scroll down to Section 5 for details specific to Vuma Aerial and Vuma Reach.

2.1. CTC

• • Power icon = Power status.
    • Green = ONT has power.
    • Off = ONT does not have power. Check that the ONT is plugged in and receiving power from the power supply.

• • F = Connection to the upstream provider (Vuma).
    • Green = Connected.
    • Off = This may indicate a fault on the fibre line. Start by restarting both your ONT and WiFi router.

If the light turns green, your connection should be restored and you’ll be able to browse the internet.

If the light remains off, check our Network Status page for any reported issues in your area. If nothing is listed, please contact our Support team for further assistance.

• • 1 = Indicates if the LAN cable is correctly plugged into your ONT.
    • Green = Connected.
    • Off = No data connection. Make sure the network cable between your ONT and WiFi router is securely connected at both ends.

If the light remains off, inspect the cable for any visible damage and try using a different network cable if you have one available. This will help rule out a faulty cable as the cause.

2.2. RAYCORE

• • Power = Indicates power status. The power light must be stable. If the power light is flashing please contact our Support team to log a fault.
    • Blue = ONT has power.
    • Off = ONT does not power. Check that the ONT is plugged in and receiving power from the power supply.

• • FX = Connection to the upstream provider (Vuma).
    • Orange = Connected.
    • Off or Red = This may indicate a fault on the fibre line. Start by restarting both your ONT and WiFi router.

If the light changes to orange, your connection should be restored and you’ll be able to browse the internet.

If the light remains off, check our Network Status page for any reported issues in your area. If nothing is listed, please contact our Support team for further assistance.

• • LAN1 = Indicates if the LAN cable is properly plugged into your ONT.
    • Orange = Connected.
    • Off = No data connection. Make sure the network cable between your ONT and WiFi router is securely connected, and that your router is powered on.

If the light changes to green, your internet connection should be restored.

If the light remains off, check the cable for any visible damage and try using a different one to rule out a faulty connection.

Which port should the LAN cable be connected to? 

Please ensure that the LAN cable is connected to LAN1 of the ONT device. If it shows a different number, it means the cable is connected to a different port.

3. CTS: TT Connect

• • Power = Indicates the power status.
    • Green = ONT has power.
    • Off = ONT does not have power. Please ensure that the device is connected to the power supply.

• • Status = Indicates the system status.
    • Green = Connected.
    • Off = System is down. Try restarting your ONT device.

If the light changes to green, your internet connection should be restored.

If the light remains off, please contact our Support team for further assistance.

• • WAN = Indicates the WAN port status.
    • Orange = Connected.
    • Geen = WAN port is up but configurations are incorrect.
    • Off = Port link is down. Visit our Network Status page to see if there are any known issues in your area.

If no problems are reported, please contact our Support team for further assistance.

• • LAN 5 = LAN Port status.
    • Orange = Connected.
    • Off = No data connection. Ensure that the network cable between your ONT and WiFi router is securely clicked into place.

If the light remains off, check the cable for any damage and confirm that it’s connected to LAN port number 5 on the ONT.

If the issue persists, try using a different cable or contact our Support team for assistance.

Are all the ONT lights on? 

If all the lights on your ONT are on and there’s no known outage in your area, try the following:

1. 1. Unplug both your ONT and WiFi router from the power socket.
   2. Wait for 5–10 minutes.
   3. Plug them back in and allow a few minutes for the devices to reconnect.

This can help re-establish your connection

4. DASAN: Octotel

• • PWR = Power status
    • Green = ONT has power.
    • Off = ONT does not have power. Check that the ONT is plugged in and receiving power from the power supply unit.

• • PON = This light indicates that your ONT is successfully connected to the upstream network provider (Octotel). A stable light here means your fibre line is active and ready for use.
    • Green = Connected.
    • Red = This may indicate a fault on the fibre line. Restart both your ONT and WiFi router.

If the light changes to green, your internet connection should be restored.

If the light remains red, check our Network Status page for any known issues in your area. If no problems are reported, please contact our Support team for further assistance.

• • ALM = The ALM light indicates whether there is a problem with your fibre connection.
    • Off = Connected.
    • Red = This may indicate a fault on the fibre line. Restart both your ONT and WiFi router.

If the light remains red, check our Network Status page for any known issues in your area. If no problems are reported, please contact our Support team for further assistance.

• • Internet = Indicates that there is internet traffic on your fibre line.
    • Green = Connected.
    • Red = This may indicate that internet traffic is not reaching your home. Restart both your ONT and WiFi router.

If the light changes to green, your internet connection should be restored.

If the light remains red, check our Network Status page for any known issues in your area. If no problems are reported, please contact our  for further assistance.

• • LAN = Indicates if the LAN cable is plugged correctly into your ONT.
    • Green = Connected.
    • Off = No data connection. Ensure that the network cable between your ONT and WiFi router is securely clicked in, and that your WiFi router is powered on.

If the light changes to green, your internet connection should be restored.

If the light remains off, check the cable for any visible damage. If the issue persists, please contact our Support team for further assistance.

5. HUAWEI MODELS: Vuma Reach, Vuma Aerial, Evotel, Thinkspeed, Link Layer & Openserve.

• • Power = Indicates power status.
    • Green = ONT has power.
    • Off = ONT does not have power. Check that the ONT is plugged in and receiving power from the power supply.

• • PON = Connection to the upstream network provider (Vuma Reach/ Vuma Aerial/ Vuma Reach / Mitsol/ Evotel/ Openserve).
    • Green = Connected.
    • Red or off = This may indicate a fault on the fibre line. Restart both your ONT and WiFi router.

If the light changes to green, your internet connection should be restored.

If the light remains red, check our Network Status page for any known issues in your area. If no problems are reported, please contact our Support team for further assistance.

• • LOS = Short for loss of signal. Indicates that a signal or connection is dropped or terminated.
    • Off = Connected.
    • Red = The network has lost signal. Restart the ONT and WiFi router. If the light goes off, you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains red, please check the Network Status page for known issues. If there are no known issues reported, please get in touch with our Support team to assist further.

• • LAN = Indicates that the LAN cable is correctly plugged into your ONT.
    • Green = Connected.
    • Off = No data connection. Ensure that the network cable between ONT and the WiFi router is plugged in correctly and the WiFi router is powered on. If the light changes to green you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains off, please check that there is no issue with the network cable and test with another one.

6. Huawei: Mitsol, FibreSuburb, DNATEL and Link Africa

• • Power = Indicates power status.
    • Green = ONT has power.
    • Off = ONT does not power. Check that the ONT is plugged in and receiving power from the power supply.

• • PON = Connection to the upstream network provider (Mitsol, Fibresuburb, DNAtel or Link Africa)
    • Green = Connected.
    • Red or off = There is a fault on the line. Restart the ONT and WiFi router. If the light changes to green you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains red, please check the Network Status page for known issues. If no known issues are reported, please contact our Support team to assist further.

• • LOS = Short for loss of signal. Indicates that a signal or connection is dropped or terminated.
    • Off = Connected.
    • Red = The network has lost signal. Restart the ONT and WiFi router. If the light goes off, you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains red, please check the Network Status page for known issues. If there are no known issues reported, please get in touch with our Support team to assist further.

• • LAN = Indicates that the LAN cable is correctly plugged into your ONT.
    • Green = Connected.
    • Off = No data connection. Ensure that the network cable between ONT and the WiFi router is plugged in correctly and the WiFi router is powered on. If the light changes to green you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains off, please check that there is no issue with the network cable and test with another one.
    •  

7. NOKIA: Vodacom, Metrofibre and Openserve

• • Power = Indicates the power status.
    • Green = ONT has power.
    • Off = ONT does not have power. Please ensure that the device is connected to the power supply.

• • Alarm = Indicates if there is a problem with your fibre connection.
    • Off = Connected.
    • Red = There is a fault on the line. Restart the ONT and WiFi router. If the light changes to green you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains red, please check the Network Status page for any known issues. If there are no known issues reported please get in touch with our Support team to assist further.

• • PON = Connection to the upstream network provider (Vodacom).

• • Green = Connected.
  • Red or off = There is a fault on the line. Restart the ONT and WiFi router. If the light changes to green you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains red, please check the Network Status page for known issues. If no known issues are reported, please contact our  to assist further.

• • LAN = Indicates if the LAN cable is plugged correctly into your ONT LAN port.
    • Green and flashing = Connected.
    • Off = No data connection. Ensure that the network cable between ONT and the WiFi router is clicked in. If the light remains off, please check that there is no issue with the network cable. If the light changes to green, you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains off, please check that there is no issue with the network cable and test with another one.

Are all the ONT lights on? 

If the lights on your ONT are on and there is no known outage, please disconnect the ONT and WiFi router from the power socket for about 5 –10 minutes and test again

8. UFIBRE/UBIQUITI: Frogfoot

• • Power light = Power status.
    • White = ONT has power.
    • Off = Bootup ONT does not have power. Check that the ONT is plugged in and receiving power from the power supply unit.

• • Signal Indicator
    • One White Light = Signal strength: Low
    • Two White Lights = Signal strength: Good
    • Three White Lights = Signal strength: Strong
    • One Amber light = Signal strength: Too Low
    • One Amber light / Two white lights = Signal strength: Too Strong
    • Three Amber lights = No signal. Restart the ONT and WiFi router. If the light turns white, you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains the same, please check the Network Status page for known issues. If there are no known issues reported, please get in touch with our Support team to assist further.

• • Arrows = Ethernet LED
    • White Light = Ethernet connection up.

Off = Ethernet connection down.

9. DZS: Vuma Aerial

• • Power = Indicates that the ONT is powered on. This light should be solid green.

• • WAN = Solid green indicates a successful connection to the fiber network.

• • Off = ONT is not provisioned.

• • Alarm = Should be off. If lit or blinking, it indicates a fiber optic signal issue.

• • Status = Provisioning done on the ONT.

• • GE 1-4 = Solid or blinking green shows activity between the ONT and connected devices (e.g., router or computer).

• • Internet = Solid or blinking green indicates an active internet connection.

• • If any of these lights are off or flashing unexpectedly, it might indicate a connection issue, please check the Network Status page for known issues. If there are no known issues reported please get in touch with our Support team to assist further.

10. HALNY: Octotel

• • Power = Power status.
    • Green = ONT has power.
    • Off = ONT does not power. Check that the ONT is plugged in and receiving power from the power supply.

• • PON = Connection to the upstream network provider (Octotel).
    • Green = Connected.
    • Red or off = There is a fault on the line. Restart the ONT and WiFi router. If the light changes to green you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains red, please check the Network Status page for known issues. If no known issues are reported, please contact our Support team to assist further.

• • LOS = Loss Of Signal. Indicates that a signal or connection has dropped or terminated.
    • Off = Connected.
    • Red = The network has lost signal. Restart the ONT and WiFi router. If the light goes off, you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains red, please check the Network Status page for known issues. If there are no known issues reported, please get in touch with our Support team to assist further.

• • LAN = Indicates that the LAN cable is correctly plugged into your ONT.
    • Green and flashing = Connected.
    • Off = No data connection. Ensure that the network cable between ONT and the WiFi router is plugged in correctly and the WiFi router is powered on. If the light changes to green you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains off, please check that there is no issue with the network cable and test with another one.

11. BDCOM: Clear Access

• • PWR = Power status.
    • Blue = ONT has power.
    • Off = ONT does not power. Check that the ONT is plugged in and receiving power from the power supply.

• • PON LINK = Connected to the upstream network provider. (Clear Access)
    • Green = Connected. Confirms live service.

• • PON LOSS = Indicates that a signal or connection is dropped or terminated.
    • Red = The network has lost signal. Restart the ONT and WiFi router. If the light goes off, you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains red, please check the Network Status page for known issues. If there are no known issues reported, please get in touch with our Support team to assist further.

• • LAN = Indicates that the LAN cable is correctly plugged into your ONT.
    • Green and flashing = Connected.
    • Off = No data connection. Ensure that the network cable between ONT and the WiFi router is plugged in correctly and the WiFi router is powered on. If the light changes to green you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains off, please check that there is no issue with the network cable and test with another one.
    •  

12. ZTE: Zoom Fibre

• • Power = Power status.
    • Green = ONT has power.
    • Off = ONT does not power. Check that the ONT is plugged in and receiving power from the power supply.

• • PON = Connection to the upstream network provider (Zoom Fibre).
    • Green = Connected.
    • Red or off = There is a fault on the line. Restart the ONT and WiFi router. If the light changes to green you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains red, please check the Network Status page for known issues. If no known issues are reported, please contact our Support team to assist further.

• • LOS = Loss Of Signal. Indicates that a signal or connection has dropped or terminated.
    • Off = Connected.
    • Red = The network has lost signal. Restart the ONT and WiFi router. If the light goes off, you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains red, please check the Network Status page for known issues. If there are no known issues reported, please get in touch with our  to assist further.

• • LAN = Indicates that the LAN cable is correctly plugged into your ONT.
    • Green and flashing = Connected.

Off = No data connection. Ensure that the network cable between ONT and the WiFi router is plugged in correctly and the WiFi router is powered on. If the light changes to green you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains off, please check that there is no issue with the network cable and test with another

13. Calix: Frogfoot, MetroFibre, Vuma Villages.

• • Power = Power status.
    • Green = ONT has power.
    • Off = ONT does not have power. Check that your ONT is plugged in and receiving power from the power supply.

• • Broadband = Connection to the upstream provider (Frogfoot/MetroFibre/Balwin/Vuma Villages).
    • Green = Connected.
    • Red or off = The fibre line is faulty. Please ensure the thin fibre cables are firmly connected to the ONT device. If the light changes to green, you will be able to connect. If the light remains red or off, please reboot the ONT and WiFi router. Check our Network Status page for any known issues. If there are no known issues reported, please contact our to assist you further.

• • Service = Connection to the Internet Service Provider.
    • Green = Connected.
    • Red or off = No connection. Restart the ONT and WiFi router. If the light changes to green, you will be able to browse the internet. If the light remains red, please check the Network Status page for any known issues. If there are no known issues reported. please get in touch with our Support team to you assist further.

• • Ethernet = Indicates if the LAN cable is properly plugged into your ONT.
    • Green = Connected.
    • Off = No data connection. Ensure that the network cable between ONT and the WiFi router is connected properly, and the WiFi router is powered on. Restart the ONT and WiFi router. If the light changes to green, you will be able to connect to the internet. If the light remains off, please check that there is no issue with the network cable and test with a different network cable. If the ethernet light still does not come on after testing with a different cable, it might be that the port is faulty, please get in contact with our Support team for further assistance.