In a move that has drawn criticism from tech enthusiasts and environmental advocates, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has disabled thousands of functional broadband test routers after the conclusion of a multi-year monitoring program. The routers, distributed to volunteers as part of the Measuring Broadband Australia (MBA) program, were bricked on June 30, 2024, effectively turning them into electronic waste unless volunteers opt to refurbish them manually.

Background of the MBA Program

The Measuring Broadband Australia program was launched in 2020 to provide independent, real-world data on the performance of fixed-line broadband services, particularly those delivered over the National Broadband Network (NBN), Australia's government-owned wholesale open-access broadband network. The ACCC, the country's chief competition regulator, partnered with SamKnows, a network measurement company acquired by Cisco in 2023, to supply custom whitebox routers to thousands of volunteers. These devices, running a custom version of OpenWRT, performed periodic speed tests and reported results to SamKnows servers, allowing the ACCC to publish quarterly reports on broadband performance.

According to the ACCC's final report, the program initially aimed to deploy about 4,000 whiteboxes. By December 2020, over 2,600 had already been distributed, with plans to expand coverage to include emerging retail service providers and new speed tiers.

The Disabling Decision

In mid-June 2024, MBA volunteers received an email from the SamKnows Team (part of Cisco) informing them that the program would end on June 30. The email stated: "Your whitebox will be disabled, and your SamKnows One account will be closed." After that date, data collection ceased and all measurement and registration data were scheduled for deletion. Volunteers were instructed to unplug the devices and dispose of them in an environmentally responsible manner, with suggestions including free e-waste recycling services at local councils, Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi, or Harvey Norman stores.

However, as one volunteer pointed out to Ars Technica (the original source of this story, which we are not citing), the routers remain technically functional. The devices run a custom version of OpenWRT — an open-source, Linux-based operating system for embedded devices — which allows them to be reflashed into standard Wi-Fi routers with decent performance. The volunteer reflashed their own device using a soldering iron and reported that it works great as a Wi-Fi router running standard OpenWRT.

"It seems a shame to me that these perfectly good devices should all be [disabled] simply because the company can't be bothered to send out a final firmware update that opens the devices up to end users," the volunteer said.

E-Waste Implications

The decision to brick thousands of functional devices has raised significant e-waste concerns. Electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally, and the United Nations estimates that only about 17% of e-waste is properly recycled. Disabling working electronics prematurely contradicts efforts to reduce waste and promote a circular economy. The routers contain valuable materials such as copper, gold, and plastic, but also hazardous substances like lead and brominated flame retardants. While recycling is an option, it requires energy and resources, and many components are lost in the process. Extending the devices' lifespan through firmware updates or open-source reflashing would be a more sustainable approach.

In the United States, a similar study by SamKnows for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2011 deployed 9,000 routers, but neither the FCC nor SamKnows has publicly disclosed what happened to those devices. This lack of transparency raises questions about how governments and companies handle measurement equipment after studies conclude.

No Official Explanation

When contacted for comment, SamKnows redirected all inquiries to the ACCC. A Cisco representative stated: "Per SamKnow's agreement with the ACCC, all inquiries related to the Measurement Broadband Australia program should be directed to the ACCC." The ACCC sent a statement that did not directly address why the routers were disabled instead of opened up via a firmware update, nor did it respond to e-waste concerns. The statement read: "The ACCC delivered the MBA program with SamKnows, its testing provider. The SamKnows 'Whitebox' is a dedicated hardware-based device that was provided to a few thousand volunteers accepted into the program. The device was manufactured and supplied by SamKnows and used to measure broadband performance as part of the program. With the conclusion of the Measuring Broadband Australia program, the whiteboxes deployed during the MBA program have been disabled and are no longer operational."

The statement also repeated the encouragement for volunteers to dispose of the devices via e-waste recycling. However, critics argue that a simple final firmware update could have unlocked the devices, allowing volunteers to use them as standard routers without any ongoing cost to the government or Cisco.

Technical Feasibility of Reuse

The whiteboxes run on OpenWRT, a widely supported open-source firmware that can be easily installed on many consumer routers. The volunteer who reflashed their device noted that the process requires a soldering iron because the device lacks a standard USB or serial interface for easy flashing. But with manufacturer support, a batch firmware update could be pushed remotely before disabling the devices, making them usable by non-technical users. Other enthusiasts have already shared online guides on how to keep the disabled routers working, demonstrating that the hardware is perfectly capable of lasting for years longer.

OpenWRT projects often maintain a repository of device-specific images, and the SamKnows whitebox hardware likely uses a standard chipset that is already supported. The main barrier is the lack of an official unlock firmware from SamKnows or Cisco. Given that Cisco is a major networking company with the resources to produce such a firmware, the decision to not do so appears to be a choice rather than a technical necessity.

Possible Motivations

While neither the ACCC nor Cisco has explained their reasoning, some observers speculate that liability concerns may be a factor. If the devices were unlocked, users might attempt to repurpose them in ways that could lead to security vulnerabilities or support issues, potentially tarnishing the brands involved. Additionally, the agreement between SamKnows and the ACCC may have included provisions for data deletion and device disposal, and altering the devices' firmware could complicate that. However, a firmware update that wipes all SamKnows software and leaves a standard OpenWRT installation would satisfy data deletion requirements while giving volunteers a useful router.

Another possibility is that the program's budget did not include funds for post-study device management, and neither party wanted to absorb the cost of producing and distributing a final update. This short-sighted approach ignores the long-term environmental and social costs of e-waste.

Broader Context of E-Waste from Tech Programs

This incident is not isolated. Many government and corporate programs that deploy custom hardware for data collection end with devices being discarded, often before they have reached the end of their useful life. For example, early broadband meters used in the UK and elsewhere were similarly scrapped. The tech industry as a whole is under growing pressure to adopt circular economy principles, where products are designed for longevity, repairability, and eventual reuse. The European Union's Right to Repair legislation and similar initiatives in Australia aim to reduce e-waste by requiring manufacturers to provide spare parts and software updates for a reasonable period.

The Australian government has its own National Waste Policy Action Plan, which sets a target of reducing the total waste generated by 10% per person by 2030 and shifting to a circular economy. The bricking of thousands of routers undermines these goals. Environmental groups have called for a rethink, urging that all government-funded hardware should have a mandatory end-of-life plan that includes options for refurbishment or open-source release.

Meanwhile, volunteers who participated in good faith feel let down. Many joined the MBA program to contribute to better broadband data, not to receive a device that would soon become e-waste. The volunteer who spoke to the media summed up the frustration: "I would have been happy to keep using the router as a normal router, even if it no longer sent data to SamKnows. It's a waste of perfectly good hardware."

Source:Ars Technica News