New foreign routers banned in the U.S. market

• The move aims to safeguard networks and critical infrastructure from cyber threats

U.S. authorities have announced a ban on the import and sale of routers manufactured outside the country, in a step to strengthen national security and protect internal networks from potential hacks.

According to an updated list by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of devices considered unsafe, all consumer-grade foreign routers are now included, similar to last year’s ban on foreign-made drones.

The FCC stated that “malicious actors have exploited security gaps in foreign routers to attack American homes, disrupt networks, conduct espionage, and steal intellectual property.”

The ban does not affect foreign routers already owned by users but applies to all new models. From now on, any router manufactured outside the U.S. must obtain prior FCC approval before being imported, marketed, or sold domestically.

To gain approval, foreign manufacturers must submit an official application, disclose any foreign investors or influence, and provide a plan to shift production to the U.S. Some devices may be exempt if approved by the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security, although no specific models have yet been listed.

The decision follows a government security assessment concluding that foreign routers “pose unacceptable risks” to U.S. security, including threats to supply chains or cyberattacks that could disrupt infrastructure or harm citizens directly.

The report noted that routers were involved in three cyberattacks targeting U.S. infrastructure between 2024 and 2025, which government investigations traced to Chinese actors or parties acting on behalf of the Chinese government.

Most routers sold globally are manufactured or assembled outside the U.S., often in Taiwan or China, and the ban also applies to devices designed in the U.S. but built abroad.