The FCC's Router Ban Could Hit These Brands Hard. Is Yours on the List?

Key Points:

• A recent Ookla report based on Speedtest.net data reveals that Amazon-owned Eero leads the US Wi-Fi router market with a 10% share, followed by Chinese-affiliated TP-Link at 9.9%, and US-based Netgear at 9.6%.
• The FCC plans to ban foreign-made Wi-Fi routers to address security concerns over "supply chain vulnerabilities," but the ban excludes routers currently in use or sold in the US and allows exemption applications for companies moving manufacturing to the US.
• Many Americans still use older Wi-Fi standards, with 28% on Wi-Fi 5 and 7% on Wi-Fi 4 or older, indicating a significant need for device upgrades to benefit from newer technologies.
• Industry groups like WiFi NOW warn that shifting router production to the US will require massive investments and take years, potentially raising costs and stifling innovation, while the White House defends the ban as a necessary security measure.
• The FCC permits software updates for existing foreign-made routers only until March 1, 2027, raising concerns about future security, and legal challenges to the ban are anticipated as the policy evolves.