Is 5G CPE an Router?

Question: Is a 5G CPE an router?

Let's define terms as follows.

• Network: A connection of multiple devices.
• LAN: A network until a modem connecting to a WAN.
• Modem: A device that modulates (translates) digital signal to analog signal, and vice versa.
• Router: A device that connects different L3 networks.
• Switch: A device that connects devices at the L2 level.

Answer: 5G CPEs contain a router function.

Reasoning:

• A CPE contains a modem because it modulates (translates) analog signals to digital signals and vice versa.
• A CPE contains a router because it has two IP addresses facing the WAN and a the LAN.
• A CPE contains a DHCP server because user devices have to be able to get IP addresses from it.
• A CPE contains a switch because user devices send DHCP Discover packets as an L2 broadcast.

Again, 5G CPEs contain a router.