If you use one DSL high-speed Internet provider for an extended period of time, it's normal to become accustomed to using the equipment that the provider installed in your home. Because of this, if you decide to change to a different DSL provider, you may wonder if it's possible to continue using the same DSL modem with your new service. The answer to this question depends on several important factors.
Compatibility
The first and most important consideration is whether your DSL modem is compatible with your new DSL service. It may seem like a modem is a modem, but your new provider may require a DSLAM-compatible modem, while your old provider didn't use them. Contact your new provider with information about your current modem and inquire if it's compatible with your new provider's DSL network.
Previous Provider Policies
A secondary consideration is whether or not your previous provider will allow you to keep the modem it provided you. Providers sometimes allow customers to purchase modems outright and keep them after the customer terminates the DSL service. Others charge the customer a monthly fee to rent the modem, then require it to be returned at the end of the service agreement. Contact your previous provider to inquire about the policy.
New Provider Policies
DSL provider policies differ similarly when it comes to customers using their own DSL modems. Some providers only allow the customer to use the provider's modem; others allow the customer to use any DSL modem, as long as it's compatible with the provider's DSL network. Again, contacting your new provider is the only way to find out for certain what the policy is.
Support
Another important concern when discussing the universality of DSL modems is support. While some providers may allow you to use any compatible DSL modem, they may only offer support on the modems that they provide, leaving you to fend for yourself if you experience problems with your own equipment. It's surely beneficial to use a modem you're familiar with, but if your new provider doesn't support it, the benefit of familiarity may be outweighed.
