TP-Link is planning to assemble routers in the United States after the government banned new foreign-made consumer routers from being sold domestically. The company has signed a letter of intent with manufacturer Key Tronic and, pending regulatory approval, says stateside assembly could begin at a Mississippi production line as soon as early 2027.
Wi-Fi 8 routers are expected to be among the first TP-Link products that Key Tronic assembles. TP-Link describes the agreement as part of its long-term effort to accelerate US investment in high-tech manufacturing and job creation, designing and assembling next-generation products for American consumers on American soil.
The company acknowledges it will still need to source components from outside the US. "Many [components] are just not available from a domestic source, and this is not a TP-Link issue," corporate affairs officer Steve Kovsky told PC Mag. "This is an issue for all manufacturers that are trying to onshore manufacturing."
In March, the Federal Communications Commission designated all consumer routers made outside the US as a security risk and banned their import. Retailers were still permitted to sell units already on shelves. The FCC said companies could apply for a waiver if they planned to move at least some manufacturing to the US. Several companies have received waivers, though TP-Link is not currently one of them.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing