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TP-Link routers could soon be 'Made in America' thanks to new partnership — but does it avoid the ban?

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TP-Link routers could soon be 'Made in America' thanks to new partnership — but does it avoid the ban?

Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission banned new routers made outside the United States, including those from TP-Link, one of the most popular and makers of some of the best Wi-Fi routers currently available.

In response, the company is looking to produce routers in the US. TP-Link announced Monday (Oct. 19) that it had signed a letter of intent with the Spokane-based Key Tronic. Pending legislative approval, TP-Link says that the partnership could see new routers produced at a factory in Mississippi as soon as next year.

“This LOI with Key Tronic demonstrates our firm commitment to expanding domestic advanced manufacturing, and establishing America as our base for delivering secure, reliable connectivity solutions to households and businesses around the world,” said Jeffrey Chao, Chief Executive Officer of TP-Link Systems Inc., in a press release.

Unfortunately, that may not guarantee that TP-Link can sell its American-made routers in the United States.

TP-Link and foreign-made routers have been facing a potential ban since at least December 2024, when The Wall Street Journal reported that the ban was coming in the next calendar year.

Like the protracted and resolved TikTok ban, the concern from US officials was about links between the Shenzhen-based TP-Link and the Chinese government. At the time, unnamed officials claimed that Chinese laws could require TP-Link to comply with Chinese intelligence agency requests, which would potentially use TP-Link routers to push malicious software updates to US-based devices.

The FCC's ban became official on March 23 of this year. Routers that were approved before March 23 could still be sold by retailers who had stock.


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