US Router Market in Turmoil Amid FCC's Foreign Manufacturer Ban

The Trump administration’s ban on foreign-made home routers, citing national security concerns, has thrown the US market into turmoil. The FCC’s move, part of the 2025 National Security Strategy, aims to secure independent supply chains, warning against dependence on “outside power for core components.” The ban particularly affects companies like T.P. Link (China) and ASUS (Taiwan), which dominate the market. T.P. Link, producing roughly 35% of America’s home routers, has met with the FCC to secure approval by investing in US manufacturing. However, the strict rules requiring full domestic operations for approval have raised criticisms of unrealistic expectations, given even US brands like Google and Netgear rely on international partners. Critics argue the ban may worsen security by discontinuing software updates for existing foreign-made routers, potentially creating more vulnerabilities. The Electronic Frontier Foundation notes this approach could entrench existing players and deepen problematic relationships. Despite initial strictness, the FCC has shown willingness to grant waivers (e.g., to Netgear and Amazon’s Eero), extending update deadlines until 2029 due to supply chain shortages. This contradictory approach has led to market uncertainty, with 11 companies receiving waivers by June 2026. As the situation evolves, the future of the US router market remains unclear, with the administration balancing national security against the harsh realities of global tech supply chains.