You've seen it, now find out what the NBN Box does

The NBN Network Termination Unit, or "NBN Box". All Australian households will receive one. Picture: NBN Co Source: Supplied

The NBN Network Termination Unit

Yesterday we ran new pictures of the NBN Network Termination Unit, or "NBN Box", which drew a huge response from readers.

THE Network Termination Unit, or "NBN Box", is not a replacement for your wired or Wi-Fi router, which you currently plug into your telephone wall socket to gain access to the internet.

The box is in fact a replacement for the wall socket

The box is in fact a replacement for the wall socket. Instead of having a single wall socket, the NBN Box will effectively provide you with six — two dedicated to voice services, and four dedicated to data services just as the internet.

Your telephone will plug into one of the voice sockets, and your internet router will plug into one of the data sockets. Each socket can provide a single and distinct service over the fibre network and into your home or business.

Why might you want six different ports? A small business might use one of the voice ports for a conventional telephone service, and the second as a fax line, during using one of the data ports for their internet service.

Different provider

Each of these services might come from a different provider, depending on who gives you the best deal for your dollar. Telstra might provide your standard phone service, Optus the fax service, and Internode the internet service.

A telecommuter might see their employer provision a second data service — over and above your own personal internet service — to another of the data ports, allowing you to be directly connected at high speed to your office network without interfering with your home internet connection.

In the future, we will likely see pay television and internet TV services from companies just as Foxtel and Telstra delivered over the fibre, through another of the data ports.

IT expert in the public

Michael Wyres has 16 years experience as an IT expert in the public and private sectors. He currently works as an VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) solutions developer for a private company in Melbourne.

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