The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission concluded its Measuring Broadband Australia program last month, which had deployed thousands of SamKnows whitebox routers to volunteers for testing broadband performance across the country’s fixed-line networks. Following the program’s completion on June 30, the devices were disabled remotely after volunteers received notification of the shutdown.
The routers in question were custom-built whiteboxes supplied by SamKnows, a networking company acquired by Cisco in 2023. According to ACCC reports, the program initially expected to distribute approximately 4,000 units, with over 2,600 deployed by December 2020. When the testing program ended, the routers were bricked despite remaining in functional condition, raising concerns about electronic waste.
Volunteers and technical observers have noted that the devices run a modified version of OpenWRT, an open-source Linux-based operating system for embedded systems. This architecture means the routers could feasibly be repurposed as standard Wi-Fi equipment through firmware updates without requiring manufacturer intervention. Some users have already demonstrated the process, though it typically requires technical expertise such as soldering capabilities when done independently.
Neither SamKnows, its parent company Cisco, nor the ACCC provided detailed explanations for why the devices were disabled rather than released for public use through a final firmware update. The ACCC directed inquiries to program agreements while Cisco deferred questions back to the regulator. Program participants have expressed frustration that functional hardware was rendered inoperable when straightforward alternatives existed to allow continued use. Volunteers were instructed to dispose of the devices through commercial e-waste recycling services available locally throughout Australia.
Originally reported by Ars Technica. Read the full story →