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Between redirecting your mail, arranging for cleaners and hiring removalists, there’s a lot to tick off your checklist before you move house. One more thing you might find yourself pondering is ‘Do I take my nbn box when I move or does the nbn connection box stay with the house?’
Here we answer just that, along with some other helpful Q&As that should clear up any confusion about your nbn equipment, your nbn connection and what you need to do to ensure you maintain your internet connection when you move house – whether you stay with your current provider or not.
What is an nbn box?
As the name suggests, the nbn box, otherwise known as the nbn connection box, Network Connection Device (NTD) or Network Termination Device (NTD) is a device that facilitates your nbn internet connection. You plug your modem or router into such nbn equipment and this provides a gateway to the nbn fibre network, allowing you to power your internet connection at home and get service from your internet provider.
Aside from a standard power point connection that will obviously be used to power the device at your current address, nbn connection boxes will connect differently depending on what nbn technology type is used. For a full rundown on the nbn fibre network and what nbn equipment is used to power different nbn connection types, check out our guide to nbn here.
Do I have an nbn connection box?
While you may have signed up for an internet plan with an nbn provider, this doesn’t necessarily mean you will have an nbn connection box. This is because the nbn rollout was done using a mix of old and new technologies, not all of which actually require an nbn box to provide an nbn internet connection. So depending on which nbn technology type and fibre network you have in your household, you may or may not have a connection box to begin with.
For an nbn connection that uses coaxial or “cable” infrastructure (HFC), the nbn connection box will plug into a coaxial wall socket somewhere in the home. This is a round plug and would look like a traditional cable TV (Foxtel or Optus) wall outlet in most cases.
For an nbn connection that uses newer fibre infrastructure (FTTP), the nbn connection box will be professionally installed by an nbn technician and will connect to the fibre cable that runs into the home from the street. Fibre to the Premises is the best type of nbn connection available as the fibre cable is run directly into the property.
For an nbn connection that uses Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) infrastructure, the nbn connection box will plug into a traditional telephone wall socket.
For an nbn connection that uses Fixed Wireless technology, the nbn connection box will be professionally installed by an nbn technician and will connect to an antenna that is mounted on the roof of your home.
For an nbn connection that runs on the traditional copper telephone line network, like Fibre to the Node (FTTN) or Fibre to the Building (FTTB), there’s no nbn connection box at all – instead, a VDSL modem will be used to connect. In this case, you can often use modems from other providers, provided that the internet provider didn’t “lock” their equipment, preventing it from being used at a new location with other providers.
f you’re looking for an internet provider that will help you try and use your current modem, avoiding having to purchase a new modem, then MATE has your back!
Here’s a helpful, easy to remember list of which nbn technologies do and don’t require an nbn connection box:
| Uses an nbn connection box |
Doesn’t use an nbn connection box |
| Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) | |
| Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) | |
|
Sky Muster Satellite Service |
Alternatively, you can look up your address online using the MATE tool to check what kind of nbn technology is available at your residence, whether it be Fibre to the Premises or others.
Not yet signed up to an nbn plan with an internet provider? MATE offers a range of affordable, unlimited data nbn plans with the option to bundle your mobile device or home phone and save $$$!
nbn black box, moving house, to take it or not to take it?
Given how small and portable nbn devices are, it’s understandable that you might think it appropriate to take them with you when moving house so you can set them up at your new residence. But the reality is, you need to leave them behind.
This is because each connection box is specifically coded to the specific residence in which it was installed. So even if you were to take it to your new house, it wouldn’t work. On the other hand, if you move into somewhere new with a missing connection box and no luck in getting a hold of the previous tenants, chances are you’ll have to wait for your phone or internet provider to issue an nbn connection box replacement – this will delay the nbn plans at your new address, regardless of which phone or internet provider you choose.
What if you accidentally damage your nbn connection box?
Moving house can be a messy affair and although you don’t take the nbn connection box with you, unplugging your modem/router can only add to your moving home checklist. With everything being packed into boxes and moved from one place to the other, you just might unintentionally do some damage to your connection box. Then what do you do? It’s best never to attempt to fix it yourself. Calling your provider to try and help remotely troubleshoot the issue with your nbn connection box is a good first step.
If you’re lucky enough to be with MATE, our award-winning customer service team are all based in Australia and can give you the best advice to get your nbn plans up and running at your new address as quickly as possible.
The Takeaway
While it’s not always a given that your particular household will have its own nbn connection box, if it does, and you decide to move – you know what you have to do. Leave it right where it is!
Have the nbn technology but no modem to channel it? No worries, mate! Our TP-Link modem/router is ready to go out of the box when you add it to any MATE nbn plan. So you can be on the net in no time.
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