TP-Link has pledged to invest nearly $1 billion in the United States to secure approval for selling its Wi-Fi 8 routers. The company plans to partner with Keytronic to assemble these devices in Corinth, Mississippi, potentially starting in 2027.
The manufacturer currently faces an FCC ban on consumer-grade routers produced abroad. While TP-Link moved its headquarters to California in 2024 and employs over 700 people in the US, it still relies on imported components from China for its Vietnam-based assembly lines.
The company is seeking an exemption from the FCC, which requires security clearance from the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security. Other manufacturers like Netgear, Asus, and Amazon have already received such exemptions.
The proposal faces significant hurdles, including lawsuits from Republican attorneys general in Florida, Montana, Iowa, and Nebraska. A group of 21 state attorneys general has also formally urged the FCC to scrutinize TP-Link's security claims and its ties to China.
