F&W Networks and UK ISP Hey! Broadband Cut e-Waste by Reusing Routers
Internet provider Hey! Broadband, which reaches various areas covered by F&W Networks‘ (Fibre and Wireless) alternative gigabit speed full fibre (FTTP) lines – mostly across the South East of England, has cut their electronic waste by becoming the latest ISP to reuse customer-premises equipment (CPE) – like home routers and optical modems (ONT).
The idea of reusing consumer broadband routers and Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) is nothing new and several internet providers, such as BT (inc. EE and Plusnet) and Virgin Media, are already known to do something similar in order to reduce their e-Waste (and probably some costs too), while also lessening their environmental impact.
However, F&W Networks points out that their joint sustainability journey began with notable challenges, not least because reusing routers initially proved more expensive than sourcing new ones. Nevertheless, the company continued to invest in the programme. Each device is now screened and tested to ensure it is fully fit for purpose, with multiple trials undertaken to verify performance following firmware updates and upgrades.
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The initiative has since scaled-up to include not only routers, but also ONTs and Smart WiFi (wireless extender) units. All reused equipment undergoes secure data erasure, diagnostics, and quality assurance testing. Hey! Broadband continues to deliver symmetrical speeds exceeding 900Mbps — and states that “customers using refurbished devices experience the same high performance, reliability, and security as with brand-new hardware“.
Xavier Balleste, Chief Operations Officer at F&W Networks, said:
“At F&W Networks, sustainability is at the core of how we operate. Reusing routers and ONTs is a practical way to reduce our carbon footprint, avoid unnecessary manufacturing, and support the principles of a circular economy. Our goal is to successfully reuse 90% of all returned equipment — and we’re proud of the meaningful progress we’ve already made.”
Lourdes Saez, CEO of Hey!Broadband, said:
“We believe small, deliberate changes across our industry can collectively deliver a big impact. This initiative enables us not only to lessen our environmental footprint, but also to offer customers more competitive prices without compromising quality. It is a win-win — for the planet and for broadband users.”
F&W has so far managed to extend their gigabit-capable broadband network to cover 410,000 UK premises read-for-service (Feb 2024 data) across 30 locations in parts of South East of England, such as Greater London, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, and West Sussex. The operator is also home to a growing customer base of over 35,000.
The network is also supported by a number of other ISPs (Octaplus, Link Broadband, Home Telecom and more), although it’s not known if they have a similar scheme.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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If they’re genuinely interested in cutting e-waste then they can have my router back. It sits in a box because I have no need for it — I have my own router and WiFi APs.
don’t know if you’re both the same Ben but I’ll reply as if it were.
ISPs want you to have their router because it aids in troubleshooting. If you have a problem, the first step they’ll ask you to do is to reconnect their router and see if the problem persists (they might skip this if it really is obvious, like ONT not powering on). Too many instances of misconfigured third party equipment for any large scale ISP to ever budge on this.
As for technology changes – just like the big ISPs, they’ll refurbish and reissue anything that they still support and ewaste the rest. Not everyone needs cutting edge wifi standards or multi gig ethernet ports, but it still needs to receive security updates. The recent changes to legislation require ISPs and their suppliers to be more rigorous on how long they need to provide that support.
My ISP can have mine back, it was used for a few minutes when the network was installed, so they could check if it was working and stuff like that. But as soon as they went out of the door, I put my own on,
I agree with BTIvor, that ISPs want you to use their router to make it easier to troubleshoot.
I’m not the same Ben as the other Ben, at least not to my knowledge!
IMO the ISP should be able to get sufficient information for troubleshooting from their ONT. Given Hey!BB uses DHCP and not PPPoE, troubleshooting with alternative equipment is very straightforward.
While I like the idea I am a bit concerned about reusing old no longer supported routers. Except they either upload their custom firmware to it or will be using WRT software.
Hey, we are only reusing supported routers in good condition. That’s why our goal is not 100%.
Good to see but its not feasible long term, as the technology changes wifi 6, 6ghz, etc new equipment is necessary. Since they are relatively new, I’ll be interested in what they do once they have lots of redundant tech in their network.
That is a problem, mainly because people will think they need this new tech, when in reality they don’t.
I have said for years, too much is wasted because people think they need the newest tech and some ISP was handing out routers like sweets. The same with mobile phones, some people seems to have a new one every year.
For most people an old router as long as it is secure will do the job. I would have kept my 9-year-old TP-Link router in play, but it can’t cope with the amount of Wi-Fi devices I have, smart home stuff. Anything I can stick on Ethernet I have including my printers.
They could cut it even more, and make a lot of people happy by offering the option of an SFP format ONT module.
Be interesting to see how long this continues, as routers start to fail due to old caps or brittle solder joints etc. I think it’s a good idea in principle though