The TP-Link router ban just got a new chapter.
On October 19, 2026, Engadget reported that TP-Link signed a letter of intent with contract manufacturer Key Tronic to assemble routers in the U.S. The line would be in Mississippi and could start as early as 2027, pending regulatory approval. Wi-Fi 8 routers are expected to be among the first products.
There is a catch. TP-Link will still need parts from outside the U.S. A TP-Link spokesperson told Engadget that many parts "are just not available from a domestic source." The deal also does not give TP-Link a waiver. As of the latest coverage we found, TP-Link has not received one.
So what does this mean if you own a TP-Link router, or want to buy one? Short answers first, then the details.
Quick answers
- Can I still use my TP-Link router? Yes. The ban does not switch off devices people already own.
- Can I still buy a TP-Link router? Yes, if it is a model the FCC approved before the ban. Stores can sell what they already have.
- Will it keep getting updates? The FCC has said already-approved foreign-made routers can keep getting software and firmware updates. Press coverage says this runs until at least January 1, 2029, after the FCC extended an earlier March 1, 2027 date.
- Will new TP-Link models come out? Not until TP-Link gets approval. Its Wi-Fi 8 plans depend on it.
Key dates
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 23, 2026 | FCC adds foreign-made consumer routers to its Covered List. New models cannot be imported unless approved. |
| Before March 23, 2026 | Models that already had FCC authorization can still be imported, sold and used. |
| May 2026 | FCC extends the update waiver for existing routers (reported as until at least Jan. 1, 2029). |
| September 9, 2026 | Asus conditional approval window starts (runs to March 6, 2028, per press reports). |
| October 6, 2026 | Four more states sue TP-Link over its China ties, according to The Hacker News. Texas sued earlier, in February. |
| October 14, 2026 | TP-Link tells the FCC it plans to spend nearly $1 billion on U.S. manufacturing and R&D (Broadband Breakfast). |
| October 19, 2026 | Key Tronic letter of intent reported. Assembly could start in 2027. |
| Early 2027 | Earliest possible start of U.S. assembly, if approved. |
Outlets disagree on the number of suing states. Broadband Breakfast counts four. Light Reading counts five, including Texas. TP-Link denies the claims and says it will fight them in court.
What the ban actually covers
The ban is about new router models made outside the U.S. It does not reach routers already approved for sale. It also does not stop you from using what you own.
Companies can ask for a conditional approval, but they have to show a plan to move at least some manufacturing to the U.S. Netgear and Amazon's eero were among the first to get one. Nokia, Adtran, Calix and Zyxel have also been reported as approved. Consumer Reports says the Netgear and eero approvals let them import new models through October 2027, though some outlets describe the length differently.
TP-Link argues it is a U.S. company based in Irvine, California. That has not been enough so far. The Key Tronic deal and the roughly $1 billion proposal look like steps toward getting a waiver, but no decision has been reported.
Your three options compared
| Keep your current TP-Link | Buy a TP-Link now | Buy a cleared brand | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Normal price | Normal price |
| Still legal to use | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Firmware updates | Allowed under the FCC waiver | Allowed under the FCC waiver | Normal |
| Risk | Low if you update it | Stock is limited to approved models | Lowest policy risk |
| New models | No | Not until approval | Yes, for approved brands |
| Best for | Anyone happy with their Wi-Fi | Deal hunters who like Deco or Archer | People who want no surprises |
Where each choice wins
Keep your TP-Link. If your Wi-Fi works, there is no rule telling you to replace it. Turn on automatic updates in the Deco or Tether app, change the default admin password, and turn off remote management if you do not use it.
Buy a TP-Link now. Approved models are still on sale. The Deco 7 BE5000 is one example listed new on Amazon. The risk is not legal. It is that stock is limited to older approved models, and the politics may change. State lawsuits are also still open.
Buy a cleared brand. Netgear and eero have conditional approvals, so new models from them can still reach U.S. stores. The Netgear Nighthawk RS500 is a Wi-Fi 7 router for a larger home. The eero 6 is a simple mesh system if you want easy setup and your internet plan is 900 Mbps or less.
Which should you buy?
- Your TP-Link works and is updated: Keep it. Nothing forces an upgrade today.
- You need a router this month and like TP-Link: An approved model such as the Deco 7 is fine. Check the firmware date after setup.
- You want the lowest policy risk: Pick Netgear or eero.
- You want simple whole-home mesh: eero 6 2-pack.
- You want Wi-Fi 8: Wait. It depends on TP-Link getting approval, and no date is set.
Check Netgear Nighthawk RS500 price on Amazon
Want to see more picks? Browse our Wi-Fi router guide or check current deals.
Other tech news this week
- Asus routers can now be sold in the U.S. after the company got a conditional approval, according to TechRadar and TechSpot.
- Key Tronic is expanding its Corinth, Mississippi plant with an $8.89 million investment and 376 new jobs, based on a report dated August 11, 2026.
Sources
- Engadget: TP-Link moves to assemble routers in the US following an import ban
- Broadband Breakfast: Router maker TP-Link proposing $1 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing
- The Hacker News: TP-Link sued by four more U.S. states
- Light Reading: TP-Link pledges $1B US investment amid mounting government resistance
- TechRadar: Asus routers can now be sold in the US, but it's bad news for TP-Link
- Consumer Reports: Foreign-made routers FCC ban
- TP-Link: Deco 7 product page
Image: TP-Link Deco 7, via TP-Link.
