Netgear routers seemingly wont be banned in the US after all and this just proves the ban was never about security

Date:
Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Description:
Netgears special treatment with the US router ban is a new twist in a saga
I'm already sick of.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member
features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gives Netgear a conditional approval to avoid router ban It seems Netgear is still using components made outside
of the US Other router makers are still facing a ban Last month, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) introduced a ban on routers made outside of the US , and while the official reasoning behind the ban was an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons, as I wrote at the time , the ban made little sense, considering how many routers are made (or use parts that have been made) outside of the US.

And my confusion over the ban has turned to anger with the news (a s reported by The Verge ) that Netgear will be exempt from the ban, with the FCC
granting the company a conditional approval to import and sell its routers. Why anger? Well, I wasnt really sold on the security argument not because there are no security issues with routers but because the heavy-handed approach would mean US consumers would end up with a lot less choice when shopping around for a new router. Article continues below You may like Why
the US just banned foreign-made routers and what it means for you Good luck, Americans, your Wi-Fi choices are about to get worse weve tested hundreds of routers and every single one of our favorites is made outside of the US Why new FCC rules could leave millions stuck with outdated, insecure hardware
This looks like a case of special treatment As I wrote last month, the
initial ban meant that if Netgear (and other router makers) wanted to get around the ban, theyd need to move their manufacturing to the US something that many companies would likely find prohibitively expensive.

With Netgear getting conditional approval to continue selling its routers (which explicitly states that companies need to establish or expand manufacturing in the United States), you might think that means Netgear is moving all parts of its manufacturing to the US, but theres been no
indication from the company that this is the case.

So, it feels like Netgear is getting special treatment. As this Reddit thread points out , Netgear was quick to praise the ban, stating We commend the Administration and the FCC for their action toward a safer digital future for Americans, while other router makers kept quiet.

Following the ban, Netgears stock rose by a not inconsiderable 16.7% , suggesting there was a lot confidence that Netgear would avoid the ban,
whilst benefitting from the fact that future products from rivals, especially TP-Link, will be banned. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from
us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The reason I mention TP-Link is because not only does it make a lot of the routers found on our best router list; it has been steadily eating away at Netgears marketshare in the US, and also provides the free routers that over 300 ISP (Internet Service Providers) in the US offer . Crucially, TP-Link is
a company that originally hails from China, which means its particularly vulnerable to the US ban.

With its biggest competitor facing a ban of future product sales (existing products will remain on sale), while somehow avoiding the ban itself, Netgear looks set to win big and thats where my frustration with this stems from.

Banning some companies while turning a blind eye to others is blatantly anti-consumer, as it could mean US consumers have little choice but to buy Netgear products. What to read next Texas sues TP-Link over suspected China links and concern for security vulnerabilities The best Wi-Fi routers 2026
DJI takes its US ban to court, claiming it 'violates the Constitution'

It also undermines the FCCs claim that this ban is about security. If that really was the case, Netgear wouldnt be able to get an exemption without moving its entire hardware production line to the US.

Itll be interesting to see if Netgear does indeed follow through and make all of its routers in the US. If not, will other US router makers who, like Netgear, still use components from outside the US, also get exemptions?

If the answer to both those questions is no, then this situation could get even messier and Ill likely get even angrier. Follow TechRadar on Google
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