The modem provides access to the Internet may also be internal.modem is is The modem is a hardware device- a translator which is one of the most common computer peripherals. The name "Modem" comes from "Modulator / Demodulator." The modem converts or "modulates" an analog signal from a telephone or cable wire to a digital signal that a computer can recognize and similarly, it converts outgoing digital data from a computer or other device to an analog signal.