Short answer: Usually yes, you use them in pairs, but the “pair” can be a media converter on one end and a fiber switch (or SFP in a switch) on the other, as long as both sides speak the same speed, wavelength, and optical mode. Before setting up your fiber optic converter to Ethernet, ensure you have all the necessary equipment: Fiber optic cables (single-mode or multi-mode depending on your setup). Ethernet cables (Cat5e, Cat6, or higher). Power adapter (for powered models) or PoE (Power over Ethernet) if supported. It uses WDM technology to realize the bidirectional transmission of optical signals on one optical fiber.