Asus routers dodge ban, TP-Link still

The FCC has announced that Asus routers do not pose a security risk, according to the Defense Department. This means the devices have been granted “conditional approval” and are exempt from the foreign-made-router ban. The Taiwanese firm will be happy with the outcome, but things aren’t looking rosy for rival TP-Link.

Asus’ exemption lasts until March 6, 2028 – approximately 18 months from when it was issued. It covers the company’s RT Series, ROG GT Series, ROG Strix GS Series, TUF Gaming Series, ExpertWiFi Series, ZenWiFi Mesh Series, 5G MiFi Series, wireless repeaters, and wireless access points.

Foreign-Produced Routers and Security Risks

The FCC added foreign-produced consumer routers to its Covered List in March, blocking authorization of new models without conditional approval from the Department of War or Homeland Security. The agency said foreign-produced routers create supply-chain vulnerabilities and severe cybersecurity risks, and pointed to their role in the Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon campaigns as justification for adding them to the Covered List.

In April, Netgear became the first router brand to avoid the ban. Amazon-owned Eero/Leo, Nokia, SpaceX/Starlink, and Askey are among the other companies granted exemptions. Part of the application process requires manufacturers to offer a plan for establishing or expanding manufacturing in the United States for their routers.

Asus and TP-Link’s Wi-Fi 8 Plans

Asus recently revealed its new generation of Wi-Fi 8 routers, including the ROG Rapture GT-BN98 series and ZenWiFi BN12 mesh system. The former is already available in Canada, with a wider rollout starting in October. Asus says US launch details will follow, making the exemption particularly well timed.

TP-Link, meanwhile, still hasn’t received an exemption. The company met with FCC officials in April to argue that TP-Link Systems is an American business headquartered in Irvine, California. But that argument has yet to secure it a place alongside its rivals on the approval list. The uncertainty is casting a dark cloud over TP-Link’s own Wi-Fi 8 plans.

For anyone already using a TP-Link router, there’s no need to start shopping for a replacement because of this ban. It affects authorization of new models; previously authorized routers can still be sold and used.

The exemption process and the ban on foreign-made routers are part of a broader effort to address supply-chain vulnerabilities and cybersecurity risks in the tech industry, which relies on complex global supply chains and is increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats.

The FCC’s decision to grant Asus an exemption, while denying TP-Link’s request, highlights the complexities of regulating the tech industry and the need for companies to adapt to changing regulatory environments. Asus and TP-Link will need to deal with these complexities to remain competitive.

They must handle the challenges of a changing regulatory system.