TP-Link plans to begin assembling its routers in the United States after a government decision restricted sales of new foreign-made routers. The company has signed a letter of intent with manufacturer Key Tronic, with production potentially starting at a Mississippi facility in early 2027, subject to regulatory approval.
The move could help TP-Link meet the conditions needed to continue selling new routers in the American market. The proposed manufacturing arrangement is also expected to support domestic investment and job creation. However, the company will still rely on overseas suppliers for components not readily available from American manufacturers.
TP-Link prepares to establish router assembly in Mississippi
TP-Link has entered into a letter of intent with Key Tronic, a manufacturing company that could assemble its routers at a production facility in Mississippi. The proposed partnership is still subject to approval from the relevant regulatory authorities, so the planned launch depends on the outcome of the approval process.
If the arrangement proceeds as expected, assembly could begin as early as the start of 2027. The development would significantly change TP-Link’s manufacturing strategy as it seeks to maintain its presence in the United States amid new restrictions on foreign-made networking equipment.
The company has said the agreement is part of a broader commitment to expand its investment in American manufacturing. TP-Link said the initiative reflects its “long-term effort to accelerate US investment in high-tech manufacturing and job creation, designing and assembling next-generation products for American consumers here on American soil.”
The proposed facility is expected to handle assembly rather than the entire manufacturing process. This distinction matters because routers contain numerous electronic components that may still need to come from suppliers abroad. Establishing an American assembly operation could therefore help TP-Link meet domestic production expectations without immediately moving every stage of its supply chain to the United States.
The arrangement could also create opportunities for the company to introduce newer networking products to the American market. However, the available information has not disclosed the Mississippi facility’s exact production capacity, the number of jobs expected to be created, or the full scope of the manufacturing agreement.
Wi-Fi 8 routers could be among the first products assembled in the US
TP-Link expects Key Tronic to assemble its next-generation Wi-Fi 8 routers among the first products if the partnership moves forward. The timing would place the proposed manufacturing operation alongside the development of newer wireless networking technology, although the company has not provided a detailed launch schedule for individual products.
Wi-Fi 8 is intended to represent the next stage in wireless networking, building on previous generations of Wi-Fi technology. As router manufacturers continue to develop new equipment, domestic assembly could let TP-Link introduce future products while adapting to changing American market requirements.
However, assembling routers in the United States does not necessarily mean that all their components will be manufactured there. Modern networking equipment depends on a complex international supply chain, including electronic parts and other materials that may be difficult to source domestically at the required scale.
TP-Link’s corporate affairs officer, Steve Kovsky, addressed this limitation in comments to PCMag. “Many [components] are just not available from a domestic source, and this is not a TP-Link issue,” Kovsky said. “This is an issue for all manufacturers that are trying to onshore manufacturing.”
His comments highlight a challenge facing technology companies seeking to expand production within the United States. Even when final assembly happens domestically, manufacturers may still depend on overseas suppliers for essential parts. Establishing a fully domestic supply chain would require additional investment, production capacity, and access to components currently sourced internationally.
For TP-Link, the proposed partnership with Key Tronic could provide a practical way to establish a domestic assembly operation while retaining access to its existing global supply network. Whether this approach will secure the necessary regulatory permissions remains uncertain, as the company has not yet received the waiver required under the current restrictions.
FCC restrictions create new challenges for router manufacturers
The proposed assembly agreement follows a March decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to classify consumer routers manufactured outside the United States as a security risk. The decision restricted imports of new foreign-made routers, significantly affecting companies that rely on overseas production to supply the American market.
The restrictions do not prevent retailers from selling foreign-made routers already on their shelves before the ban took effect. This provision allows existing stock to remain on sale, but it limits manufacturers’ ability to introduce new imported models without the required authorisation.
According to the FCC’s notice, companies can apply for a waiver, provided they plan to move at least part of their manufacturing operations to the United States. The requirement incentivises networking equipment manufacturers to establish domestic production or assembly arrangements if they want to keep introducing new products in the country.
Several companies have already received waivers, demonstrating that exemptions are possible under the framework. TP-Link, however, has not yet received one. Its proposed agreement with Key Tronic could help address the regulatory requirements, although the company will still need to complete the relevant approval process.
The restrictions also raise questions about how manufacturers will balance domestic production with the realities of international component sourcing. Moving assembly operations to the United States may help companies comply with some requirements. Still, it does not automatically resolve every concern surrounding the origin of the components used in their products.
TP-Link’s plans therefore represent an important step toward adapting to the changing regulatory environment, not a complete solution. If the agreement is approved and production begins in early 2027, the company could gain domestic assembly capability for future routers, including Wi-Fi 8 models. However, until the regulatory process is complete, the timeline and impact on product availability in the United States remain uncertain.
