The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has disabled thousands of routers that were distributed to volunteers as part of a national broadband performance study, sparking criticism over the creation of unnecessary electronic waste. The devices, supplied by SamKnows—a network measurement company acquired by Cisco in 2023—were used for the Measuring Broadband Australia (MBA) program, which began in 2020 to track the real-world speeds and reliability of fixed-line broadband services, particularly those delivered over the National Broadband Network (NBN).

The program concluded on June 30, 2026, and all routers were remotely disabled. According to an email reviewed by Ars Technica, participants were informed that their whiteboxes would stop collecting data and that their SamKnows One accounts would be closed. The email, signed by the SamKnows Team (part of Cisco), encouraged volunteers to unplug the devices and dispose of them in an environmentally responsible manner, directing them to free e-waste recycling services at local councils or retailers such as Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi, and Harvey Norman.

However, a volunteer who spoke on condition of anonymity pointed out that the routers are still functional hardware. They run a custom version of OpenWRT, an open-source Linux-based operating system commonly used on embedded devices. The volunteer successfully reflashed their whitebox—an operation that requires a soldering iron without official support—and now uses it as a standard Wi-Fi router running OpenWRT. This suggests that thousands of devices could have been repurposed rather than bricked, reducing electronic waste and providing useful networking equipment to volunteers.

The Program and Its Scope

The MBA program was launched by the ACCC to provide independent, accurate data on the performance of broadband plans sold by retail service providers in Australia. The program targeted fixed-line services over the NBN as well as other access networks. In a December 2020 report, the ACCC noted it expected to distribute approximately 4,000 whiteboxes throughout the program’s duration and had already deployed over 2,600 by that time. The agency retained a pool of units to expand coverage for emerging providers and new speed tiers.

The whiteboxes were designed to run automated tests against servers maintained by SamKnows and hosted in Australia. They measured metrics such as download and upload speeds, latency, and jitter. The data was used to produce quarterly reports that helped consumers compare advertised speeds with actual performance. The final report was released in June 2026, marking the end of the program.

Now that the program has concluded, the ACCC and SamKnows have disabled all routers. The agency issued a statement saying that with the close of the MBA program, the whiteboxes are no longer operational, and volunteers are encouraged to dispose of them responsibly. The statement did not address why the devices could not be repurposed via a firmware update that would unlock them for general use.

Why Were the Routers Bricked?

The decision to disable the routers has raised questions about the motives of the stakeholders involved. When asked by Ars Technica, neither SamKnows nor Cisco—which now owns the SamKnows brand—provided a direct explanation. Cisco redirected all inquiries back to the ACCC, stating that per the agreement, all questions should go to the regulator. The ACCC’s response evaded the core issue of why a firmware update was not issued to allow volunteers to keep using the routers.

Experts suggest several possible reasons. One is liability: if the routers are officially repurposed, the ACCC or Cisco might be held responsible for any future software vulnerabilities or hardware failures. Another is commercial interest: Cisco, a major networking hardware vendor, may have little incentive to give away free routers that could cannibalize sales of low-end consumer devices. Additionally, the agreement between the ACCC and SamKnows likely required the return or disposal of the equipment after the program ended, with no clause for open-sourcing the firmware.

The volunteer who reflashed his device noted that the whiteboxes are based on standard hardware that can easily run a clean OpenWRT installation. The process involves accessing the device’s serial console and flashing a new firmware image. Online forums already contain guides for doing this, and the community is likely to grow as more volunteers seek to salvage their routers.

E-Waste and Environmental Impact

E-waste is a growing global problem. According to the United Nations Global E-Waste Monitor, approximately 62 million tonnes of electronic waste were generated worldwide in 2022, with only 22.3% documented as being properly collected and recycled. The average Australian produces over 20 kilograms of e-waste per year, and much of it ends up in landfills or is improperly handled. By bricking thousands of functional routers—each containing circuit boards, power supplies, and plastic enclosures—the ACCC is adding to this environmental burden unnecessarily.

The routers can be recycled, but recycling consumes energy and resources. Reuse is far more environmentally friendly. The volunteer who reflashed his device pointed out that it now performs very decently as a home Wi-Fi router. In many households, such a device could replace older, less efficient equipment or serve as a backup unit. Instead, the ACCC’s decision turns a valuable resource into trash.

Similar programs in other countries have taken different approaches. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) partnered with SamKnows in 2011 to measure broadband performance using approximately 9,000 routers. What happened to those devices is unclear; the FCC and SamKnows have not publicly disclosed whether they were repurposed, recycled, or disposed of. The lack of transparency has frustrated consumer advocates who argue that government-funded research should prioritize sustainability.

OpenWRT and the Potential for Repurposing

OpenWRT is a well-known, highly customizable Linux-based operating system for embedded devices. It is used on countless consumer routers from manufacturers like TP-Link, Xiaomi, and Linksys. The SamKnows whiteboxes run a custom version of OpenWRT that was preconfigured to connect to the company’s measurement servers. Because the underlying hardware is standard, it is possible to flash a generic OpenWRT image and turn the device into a fully functional router.

The volunteer reported that performing the flash required soldering because the device did not have a readily accessible firmware recovery mode. However, once done, the process was straightforward. The community has already published step-by-step guides. This demonstrates that the technology exists and is accessible to moderately technical users.

Had the ACCC and SamKnows agreed to issue a final firmware update that unlocked the devices—perhaps through an official release on the SamKnows website—the process would have been much simpler and available to all volunteers. However, no such update was provided, and the companies have remained silent on the matter.

Industry and Consumer Reactions

Tech commentators have criticized the ACCC’s approach, calling it a missed opportunity to demonstrate environmental responsibility. The Australian government has committed to reducing e-waste through various initiatives, including the National Waste Policy Action Plan and the Product Stewardship Act. Allowing functional devices to be destroyed contradicts these goals.

Consumer groups argue that volunteers who donated their time and electricity to the program should at least be allowed to keep the equipment. Many were not aware that the routers could be repurposed until after they were bricked. The ACCC’s statement did not acknowledge any possibility of repurposing, focusing instead on proper recycling.

SamKnows and Cisco, as technology companies, are well aware of the capabilities of OpenWRT. Their decision not to facilitate repurposing suggests that they prioritize control over the devices and avoid potential support burdens. However, by doing so, they miss the chance to strengthen goodwill with the public and to position themselves as leaders in sustainable IT practices.

A Broader Pattern of Programmatic E-Waste

This incident is not isolated. Similar stories have emerged from broadband testing programs, corporate equipment refreshes, and government IT projects where functional hardware is destroyed or thrown away due to contract terms or security policies. For example, some telecommunications companies routinely destroy returned routers even if they are in perfect working order to prevent them from being reused by customers who might expect support.

The environmental cost of such practices is enormous. The manufacture of a single router requires raw materials including copper, gold, silver, and rare earth elements, as well as energy and water. Extending the usable life of electronic devices is one of the most effective ways to reduce the carbon footprint of the tech industry. The ACCC, funded by taxpayers, has a responsibility to minimize the environmental impact of its programs.

In this case, a small firmware update or a simple guide released by SamKnows could have turned thousands of devices from waste into valuable tools. The fact that this was not done suggests a systemic failure in the planning of the program’s end-of-life phase. Future government programs should incorporate clauses requiring that hardware be designed for repurposing or provided with an open-source unlock when no longer needed.

The routers themselves are now sitting in volunteers’ homes, unplugged. Some will be recycled; others will be thrown into landfill. A few will be salvaged by technically inclined users. But the majority will become part of the 62 million tonnes of annual e-waste. The ACCC and Cisco have the opportunity to reverse course, release a final firmware update, and enable volunteers to keep their devices functional. Until they do, the decision stands as a cautionary tale about the hidden costs of government programs.

Source: Ars Technica News