Which Brands Will Be Hardest Hit by FCC's Foreign Router Ban? Here's the List

Key Points:

• The FCC's ban on foreign-made Wi-Fi routers will impact all manufacturers due to the industry's heavy reliance on Asian production, with a recent Ookla report identifying the most popular brands in the US that will be affected.
• According to Ookla data from January 2025 to April 2026, Amazon-owned Eero leads the US market with a 10% share, followed by Chinese-affiliated TP-Link at 9.9%, and US-based Netgear at 9.6%.
• Many US consumers 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 hardware upgrades to benefit from newer technologies.
• Industry experts warn that shifting router production to the US will require massive investments and years to implement, likely increasing costs for consumers, while the White House defends the ban as a necessary security measure against supply chain vulnerabilities.
• The FCC allows software updates for existing foreign-made routers only until March 1, 2027, and vendors can seek exemptions if they plan to move manufacturing to the US, though this policy may face legal challenges and further clarification.