Telecom / Network Board • 2160mg Au/lb • Scrap: $5.38/lb
Cisco Telecom / Network Board — Representative photo
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Cisco |
| Model / Type | OC-48 SONET Line Card |
| Board Category | Telecom / Network Board |
| Gold Content | 2160mg per lb |
| Palladium Content | 266mg per lb |
| Copper Content | 19% |
| Scrap Value (per lb) | $5.38 |
| Min. Lot for Pickup | 50 lbs commercial |
Telecom-grade line cards and switching fabrics with the highest gold content of any commercial PCB type, due to gold-plated backplane connectors and ASIC chip bonding. The Cisco OC-48 SONET Line Card contains approximately 2160mg of gold per pound, 266mg of palladium per pound, and 19% copper by weight. At current August 2026 market rates, this translates to approximately $5.38 per pound in scrap value.
Cisco is known for high-quality manufacturing standards, which often means higher precious metal content in their PCBs compared to generic alternatives. The gold plating on edge connectors, CPU socket pins, and high-speed signal traces is thicker and purer than consumer-grade boards, making them more valuable per pound at the refinery.
At ScrapMetalBuyers.com, we buy scrap circuit boards in bulk from data center decommissions, electronics recyclers, and ITAD companies. We focus on commercial-scale lots of 50 lbs or more. Sean handles every deal personally — no brokers, no middlemen, same-day payment.
Disclaimer: All prices are estimates based on August 2026 market conditions. Scrap circuit board prices change daily with gold, palladium, and copper spot prices. Call 754-310-2984 for a confirmed, locked-in quote.
Approximately 2160mg per pound of board weight. At current gold prices near $3,300/troy oz, that's about $458.33 per pound in gold value alone.
Approximately $5.38 per pound (August 2026). Prices change daily. Call 754-310-2984 for a confirmed quote.
We focus on commercial lots of 50 lbs or more. Call Sean at 754-310-2984 to arrange free pickup.
Yes — we buy mixed lots of server boards, GPU boards, telecom cards, and industrial boards together. No sorting required.
Yes. Scrap board prices are tied to gold, palladium, and copper spot prices, which fluctuate every trading day.
The Cisco OC-48 SONET Line Card Circuit Board Scrap Value (original production release) is a specialized electronic assembly used across multiple high-value industrial and commercial sectors. Understanding where these boards come from and how they were used is critical to accurately assessing their scrap value — boards from certain industries carry heavier gold plating, more complex BGA packages, and higher-value precious metal profiles than visually similar boards from other sectors.
OC-48 SONET line cards operate at 2.488 Gbps and use SONET/SDH framing for synchronous transport of TDM voice and data traffic. These cards contain SONET framer ASICs and clock recovery circuits. While older technology, these cards contain significant gold in their BGA packages and optical interface connectors. The age of these cards (typically 15–25 years old) means they are now primarily scrap material.
This is the base production model representing the original manufacturing specification. Base production units are the most commonly encountered version and represent the standard precious metal content for this board type. These boards are typically 8–15 years old at current market conditions.
Legacy SONET network decommissioning as carriers migrate to packet-based Ethernet and MPLS networks, enterprise WAN upgrades, and utility communication system modernization projects. Large volumes are available as the last SONET networks are retired.
OC-48 SONET line cards are typically 15–25 years old and may show age-related oxidation. The precious metal content is unaffected by age. These cards are almost exclusively scrap material at this point.
We buy single boards and bulk lots. Free pickup for 50+ lbs. Same-day payment on approved lots.
📞 Call 754-310-2984 Get a Written QuoteRelated sites in our network for factory-built structures, jobsite offices and container conversions.
Portable Guard ShacksGuard shacks and booths, including ballistic-rated packages.Guard Shacks For SaleGuard shacks and guard booths for sale, delivered.Shipping Container ShedsContainer sheds and storage conversions, priced by shell and package.