The US government implemented a ban on foreign-made consumer routers this spring. To receive an exemption, manufacturers must prove they are not a national security threat and provide a detailed plan to establish or expand production within the United States.
Asus secured a blanket exemption from the FCC on September 9, which covers all its future routers through March 2028. This approval allows the company to introduce its upcoming Wi-Fi 8 devices to the American market.
Despite the requirement for a domestic manufacturing plan, Asus has not publicly disclosed any details regarding US-based production. The company failed to clarify whether it submitted a plan for local manufacturing or simply for equipment intended for the US market.
The FCC does not conduct security testing on these products to grant exemptions, focusing instead on the location of manufacturing. Both Asus and Netgear claim to produce their hardware in countries considered US allies, moving away from Chinese manufacturing.
Asus is currently marketing itself as a Trusted Networking Equipment Brand and a Trusted Consumer Router Vendor. However, these designations appear to be internal claims rather than official certifications issued by the federal government.
