Know What's Happening in Telecom

FCC Just Handed Netgear a De Facto Router Monopoly in the US

The FCC granted Netgear conditional approval that lifts the ban on foreign‑made consumer routers, effectively giving it a de facto monopoly on new router sales and servicing in the United States until October 1 2027. The approval covers Netgear’s Nighthawk and Orbi mesh lines, allowing continued software updates and the launch of future models. Other manufacturers remain barred from introducing new foreign‑made routers unless they obtain similar approval, which requires a plan to shift production to the U.S. This move positions Netgear as the sole FCC‑cleared source for new consumer networking gear.