Chinese company TP-Link says it will start making Wi-Fi 8 routers in the US, dodging government soft ban in one easy step
This will be deemed a win-win for the US economy and national security.
In an effort to bypass a government soft ban on foreign-made routers, TP-Link, a Chinese company, has announced plans to manufacture Wi-Fi 8 routers in the United States. This move comes after the FCC declared that these routers must receive special approval to be sold in the US, reportedly putting pressure on TP-Link to make a significant change.
The company has signed a letter of intent with electronics manufacturer Key Tronic to support router assembly in Mississippi. TP-Link CEO Jeffrey Chao stated that this LOI with Key Tronic demonstrates the firm's commitment to expanding domestic advanced manufacturing and establishing America as their base for delivering secure, reliable connectivity solutions.
Key Tronic CEO Brett Larsen added that their production footprint will provide TP-Link with a strong domestic foundation, along with expertise in high-reliability electronics manufacturing to support the company's new generation of Wi-Fi 8 technologies.
Wi-Fi 8, which primarily focuses on reliability by reducing interference and latency, is indeed an exciting development. The soft ban on foreign-made routers was ostensibly implemented for national security reasons, as compromised networking infrastructure could pose a major threat. However, there has been a broader push for on-shore manufacturing since the Trump administration started levying tariffs against certain imports and mandating companies to buy from local producers.
The US government has been increasingly keen on encouraging tech manufacturing on-shore in recent years, with TSMC announcing a further $100 billion investment in US chip production just a few months ago.
This decision by TP-Link to manufacture Wi-Fi 8 routers in the US should make selling to US customers easier once production begins, likely as early as early next year. Economic and security motivations are not mutually exclusive, as encouraging on-shore production for economic benefit can also benefit national security.
Written by urgent.news from PC Gamer's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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