You can usually move your nbn connection box to another spot inside your home, but you cannot do it yourself. nbn’s Authority to Alter lets a registered cabler relocate certain nbn equipment within the same premises, and what they can move depends on whether you have fibre to the premises (FTTP), fibre to the curb (FTTC), HFC or fibre to the node (FTTN). Anything outside the building, such as the box on the external wall, the lead-in cable or the pit, can only be moved by nbn through its Relocation Works process. That process starts with a non-refundable application fee of $550 to $2,750 (inc. GST).
Updated September 2026. This guide explains nbn’s Authority to Alter rules and what a registered cabler can and cannot do. It covers how the rules differ for each connection type, nbn’s fees for moving external equipment and when a move is worth paying for. We have summarised nbn and ACMA documents in plain English, but they change from time to time, so check the current versions before you book work.
What nbn’s Authority to Alter allows
nbn owns the equipment it installs in your home, even though it is on your property. Its Authority to Alter document (revision 7.0, issued July 2026) authorises registered cablers accredited by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to “move, remove or alter certain nbn® Facilities”. It covers residential and small business premises on the fixed-line networks. It does not cover fixed wireless or satellite.
Three points in the document matter to householders:
- Only listed activities are allowed. The document says that if an activity is not listed, it is not authorised.
- nbn still owns the equipment. nbn keeps ownership of anything the cabler works on and can seek damages from a cabler who causes harm.
- The cabler must be registered with the right competency. Fibre work needs the optical fibre endorsement and HFC work needs the coaxial endorsement.
nbn’s own advice is simple: “please don’t try to remove or relocate it yourself”. Unplugging and moving your modem or router is fine. Moving the nbn box itself, or the cabling behind it, is not a DIY job.
What can be moved, by connection type
The table summarises the Authority to Alter (revision 7.0) for each fixed-line technology.
| Connection type | What a registered cabler can do inside | What they cannot do |
|---|---|---|
| FTTP (fibre to the premises) | Move the fibre connection box (NTD) to another room in the same premises, and move the battery backup unit | Move or replace the external premises connection device (PCD), touch the lead-in from the pit, or use mechanical fibre connectors |
| HFC (cable) | Install an nbn wall plate where you prefer it, with a new coaxial cable run from the isolator | Move or replace the external PCD, or move or modify the isolator |
| FTTC (fibre to the curb) | Move the first telephone socket, and relocate the connection device for renovations | Alter the lead-in between the property boundary and the building |
| FTTN (fibre to the node) | Move the first telephone socket to another location in the same building | Alter the lead-in, or star-wire from lead-in joints |
FTTP
FTTP is the most common reason people ask about moving the box. An indoor connection box can only be moved to a different room in the same premises. The new fibre cable must not exceed 40 metres from the external PCD, and it must be joined by fusion splicing. That is specialist optic fibre work, so it costs more than moving a copper phone socket.
HFC
On HFC, the cabler installs a new nbn wall plate at your preferred spot and runs new coaxial cable from the isolator. nbn requires the signal levels to stay within specification, so a long run may not be possible.
FTTN and FTTC
On FTTN and FTTC, the nbn equipment connects through your phone wiring, so “moving the box” is really moving the first phone socket. nbn’s FTTN explainer says you will need a registered cabler if you want a wall socket in a different room. It is also a chance to fix the wiring. When nbn studied almost 800 homes, it found that wiring caused problems in one in two FTTN premises. Fixes included using the first socket and fitting a central splitter.
Upgrading to full fibre? Choose the location first
If your home is being upgraded from FTTN or FTTC to FTTP, the upgrade is the cheapest time to get the box where you want it. nbn’s upgrade FAQs say the connection box normally goes within 1.2 metres of a power point and within a 12-metre radius of where the fibre enters the home. nbn will give you at least one option that meets these guidelines. If you want it somewhere else, you can install your own cable pathway, or run an Ethernet cable from the box to your preferred spot, at your own cost. nbn’s step-by-step upgrade guide recommends using a registered cabler for that work. The free installation covers the nbn-supplied equipment only.
Moving external equipment: nbn Relocation Works
The box on your outside wall, the lead-in cable, the pit and any conduit are part of nbn’s network. A cabler cannot move them under the Authority to Alter. If you are renovating, extending or building a granny flat and they are in the way, apply to nbn for Relocation Works. nbn’s cost guide lists, all inc. GST:
- a non-refundable application fee of $550 to $2,750, deducted from the final quote
- lead-in relocations from $3,000
- relocation of externally mounted nbn equipment in fixed-line areas from $2,400
- aerial to underground conversions from $4,000.
Pit and conduit moves are scoped individually. nbn warns that construction works can take 50 days or more, so apply early if the equipment is in the way of a build.
What a private cabler charges
We could not find a reliable published price guide for moving an nbn connection box inside a home, so we will not quote a figure. The main cost drivers are:
- Connection type. A copper socket move on FTTN or FTTC is simpler than a fibre move with fusion splicing on FTTP.
- Distance and route. A move to the other side of a wall is quick. A run through a double-storey ceiling or a concrete slab takes longer.
- Power. The FTTP box needs a power point nearby. If there is none, you will need a licensed electrician as well.
- Extra data points. Moving the box is often combined with new data points or a comms cabinet, which is more efficient in one visit.
Our data cabling cost guide has published ranges for data points and cabinets that often form part of the same job. Get an on-site quote for the move itself.
Who is allowed to do the work
Cabling in Australia is regulated by the ACMA under the Telecommunications (Cabling Provider) Rules 2025. The ACMA says a cabler needs the appropriate kind of registration and additional competencies for the job, must follow the AS/CA S009:2020 Wiring Rules, and must give you a written statement that the work complies. The ACMA lists the optical fibre and coaxial competencies under open registration. Ask the cabler which registration and endorsements they hold before booking an FTTP or HFC move, and check their card with the registrar shown on it.
When is moving the box worth it?
nbn’s in-home optimisation advice is to put your Wi-Fi router off the floor in a raised, central spot, not in a cupboard or behind furniture. If the box is in a front bedroom or garage, you have three options:
- Move the box when you want everything in one central cupboard or comms cabinet, or during a renovation.
- Leave the box and run Ethernet to a central router. This is often cheaper, avoids touching nbn equipment and adds a useful data point.
- Add a mesh Wi-Fi system. nbn suggests this for larger homes, and works best when the mesh nodes are linked by cable.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move the nbn box myself?
No. nbn asks you not to remove or relocate its equipment yourself. The work must be done by a registered cabler under the Authority to Alter, or by nbn for external equipment.
Can an electrician move my nbn box?
Only if they are also an ACMA-registered cabler with the right competency. An electrical licence alone does not cover telecommunications cabling.
Will moving the box void anything with nbn?
nbn keeps ownership of the equipment and expects the work to follow its guidelines. If a fault appears after work on a copper service, nbn says to log it with your internet provider.
Can I take the nbn box with me when I move house?
No. nbn says the connection box is only set up for the address it was installed at, so it stays with the property.
How long does nbn take to move external equipment?
nbn says construction works can take 50 days or more after the quote is accepted. Allow for that in your renovation schedule.
Mac-Tek Telecom handles communications cabling, fibre work and home network upgrades across Penrith, Parramatta, Blacktown, Mount Druitt, St Marys and Western Sydney. Book a free on-site quote or call 0411 126 995. We will check your connection type, explain whether moving the box or running cable makes more sense, and give you a written price.
