Foreign Internet Routers Restricted in US Over National Security Interests

While none of the existing internet routers are going to be taken off of shelves, there might be something of a supply crunch for new models going forward due to a new directive issued in the name of US national security.

Foreign-made consumer-grade routers are now blocked from sale in the US by default, and will need to undergo a special approval process that comes with a thumbs-up from the Department of War (DoW) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While the ban applies globally, it is clearly aimed at reducing dependency on equipment coming from China (which continues to be both the US and the world’s leading supplier of routers and parts despite recent tariffs and accusations of being behind damaging hacking campaigns.

National security rumors about TP-Link jump to full foreign ban

For some time there have been rumors circulating about a ban on TP-Link’s popular lines of internet routers, after a lawsuit brought by the Florida attorney general last month and related whispers about intentional holes and backdoors left in products. The FCC has instead jumped directly to placing all foreign-made routers on the “Covered List” of devices that pose a national security risk, forcing manufacturers to earn their way off by demonstrating that their hardware and firmware is safe and free from foreign influence.

Despite business there becoming more expensive due to Trump-era tariffs, the US market for internet routers is still heavily tied to China. The country still produces about 60% of the routers sold in the US. TP-Link has the strongest overall ties to China and also holds the largest chunk of US market share at about 35%. Other manufacturers have diversified to an assortment of other countries throughout Asia, but almost none fully manufacture their routers in the US. Starlink is likely the closest as it assembles routers in Texas, but sources the parts from an assortment of East Asian nations.

The first concern for many upon seeing this news will be availability. Existing stock remains available and legal, but it remains to be seen if new internet routers will end up being bottlenecked as they come to market. Some companies (most notably Netgear) have entirely separated their production from China and may thus see quick approvals, but there also remains the question of this adding cost at the consumer end.

Assembling internet routers in the US may suffice

This move has its immediate roots in the 2025 National Security Strategy, but the FCC’s Covered List dates back to 2021 and has previously seen individual equipment manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE added to it. The list is usually for individual entities that pose a supply chain and critical infrastructure risk, with most of the list having suspected ties to the Chinese or Russian governments. Putting this broad of a ban on a telecommunications equipment category is a new development.

Router manufacturers will need a conditional authorization for their new products. Manufacturers can continue to issue updates to existing routers that pre-date this order, and there should be no issue with continuing to use them. One element that is not entirely clear at this point is assembly of internet routers in the US using foreign parts; the national security rules seem to provide broad ability to do this, so long as an unapproved “modular transmitter” is not included and “sufficient evidence” is provided to indicate the router was actually assembled within the US.

One signal to watch may be to follow what the US government does. If government agencies begin hoarding existing routers, there might be some market troubles ahead.