Please stop selling NBN decoders on Gumtree and Facebook: NBN

If you’ve ever browsed Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace, you’ve probably seen people selling something that is absolutely not theirs.

Australian internet markets are rife with offers of “NBN connection boxes”, devices that allow you to connect your home or work to the national broadband network so you can use the internet.

These small boxes, usually white or black with the NBN Co logo, are usually hidden under desks or in cupboards in most Australian homes. Crucially, they do not belong to either the homeowner or the person who signed up with the internet provider.

NBN Co owns these boxes and knows people are selling them online. They want you to know they are tired of having to replace them when people take them.

“NBN Co owns the NBN junction boxes and they should not be removed, sold or moved to another address. Each box is linked to a specific property and must remain there,” an NBN Co spokesman said. Crickets. Most devices will say “NBN property.”

Yet there are dozens of NBN boxes currently for sale online for as much as $60, despite the fact that they are free and — once set up — completely useless if used anywhere other than at their original address. It’s a problem that has been going on for years, and it’s unclear whether any of these boxes are ever purchased.

One reason for this problem is probably the confusion between NBN decoders and devices used to connect homes to the internet.

NBN junction boxes – also known as network terminal devices – are modems that connect either via fibre to the curb (FTTC) or a hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) connection. There are also routers (sometimes called modems) that connect a phone or computer to an NBN box, either via a wired or wireless network owned by a person.

If your eyes are glazed over, the only thing you really need to understand is that most of our homes have two internet boxes with flashing lights that communicate with each other. One is supposed to stay in the home and is owned by the NBN; the other is owned by the tenant and takes it with them if they move. Understandably, people confuse the two, which is why both end up online.

When is that? Crickets The reporter tried to tell the people who put the boxes up for sale that they were supposed to stay home, but their responses did not suggest they were grateful for the help:

“Okay, people sell them on Gumtree. I’m not the only one.”

“Anyone can use this, it’s a new product, never used.”

“Listen, first of all, it’s none of your business if you don’t buy it, second of all, this is NEW IN THE BOX, which means it has NEVER BEEN INSTALLED OR SENT TO ANY HOME, third of all, the supplier gave me a written email saying I can do whatever I want with it, so please stop bugging me. Goodbye.”

In 2020 and 2021, NBN Co had to replace 101,402 boxes, although a significant portion of those were due to lightning damage. Even among the missing boxes, the company said most are not sold online. It is likely that many are being taken by Australians who are moving and anticipate needing to install the devices in their new homes.

Understandably, NBN Co. is trying to make people realize that there is no benefit to hoarding these little internet boxes.

“We are currently running an awareness campaign to raise awareness of the importance of leaving boxes behind when moving. We are also working with the property industry to explore ways we can work with them to reduce the number of lost devices.”