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TP-Link is one of the most dominant router manufacturers in the world — but a U.S. ban in 2025 might change that.
The U.S. government is reportedly considering banning the sale of TP-Link routers starting next year.
For those unfamiliar, TP-Link is a Chinese network equipment company with headquarters in both China and the United States, and chances are you have used a TP-Link router to connect to the internet at some point in your life.
The U.S. government reportedly believes TP-Link routers pose a threat to national security. The Departments of Justice, Commerce, and Defense are investigating following reports of TP-Link routers being used in a network of hacked small office/home office (SOHO) routers involved in malware attacks.
TP-Link holds a significant share of the U.S. market for home and small-business routers. It is the default choice for many internet service providers (ISPs) supplying equipment to residential customers.
If the ban is implemented, consumers in the U.S. could face increased prices, fewer options, and other negative consequences. We explore how the potential TP-Link ban could spell bad news for consumers.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. is investigating a potential ban on TP-Link routers over national security concerns tied to vulnerabilities and alleged price undercutting.
- TP-Link dominates the U.S. router market with affordable options, but a ban could lead to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers.
- Critics argue TP-Link’s security risks are no worse than those of competitors, suggesting the scrutiny is more about politics than technology.
- A ban may disrupt ISPs and government agencies using TP-Link, echoing costly past efforts to replace Chinese telecom equipment.
Why TP-Link Is Facing a Potential Ban
While the U.S. has not confirmed plans to ban TP-Link, The Wall Street Journal reported that authorities are considering such a move. Lawmakers allege that TP-Link routers often ship with security flaws and that the company has been slow to collaborate with researchers to address vulnerabilities.
Another reason TP-Link is under scrutiny is its rapid growth. The company’s share of the U.S. market for home and small-business routers grew from about 20% in 2019 to around 65% this year, according to the Wall Street Journal.
However, TP-Link disputes that number, telling Techopedia its actual market share for home Wi-Fi routers in the U.S. is closer to 12%.
TP-Link is the default router choice for over 300 U.S. internet providers, who send these routers to customers when they rent equipment. The brand is even used by government agencies, including the Department of Defense and the Drug Enforcement Administration, which have included TP-Link routers in contracting documents.
Its latest Wi-Fi 7 router, priced at $108 on Amazon, is much cheaper than comparable models from Asus ($218) and Netgear ($230). If a ban were to happen, U.S. consumers would likely face higher prices for routers.
As the WSJ reports: “The Justice Department is [also] investigating whether the price discrepancies violate a federal law that prohibits attempts to create monopolies by selling products below manufacturing costs.”
How a TP-Link Ban Will Affect Consumers
If TP-Link routers are deemed a national security threat, the U.S. will likely need to replace the ones currently used by government agencies and the public.
While this may seem exaggerated — since a potential ban would likely only apply to future sales and not existing models — a full-use ban isn’t entirely out of the question.
In 2019, the U.S. effectively ordered companies to replace all Huawei and ZTE gear. The government pledged taxpayer money to help cover the cost of replacing it with equipment from U.S. or European companies.
The Federal Communications Commission previously estimated the cost of replacing Chinese gear at around $2 billion.
Samantha Taylor, policy analyst and business expert at LLC.org, told Techopedia:
“A U.S. ban on TP-Link would restrict the options for consumers in the US, who would be pushed into paying more for less competitive or less-sophisticated brands.
“TP-Link appears to have been in a big push to constantly get its hardware available first and try to figure out ‘excuses’ to provide the same (more or less) cheap hardware at even lower prices where possible.”
Are TP-Link Routers Unsafe?
If U.S. lawmakers are considering a ban on TP-Link, one might assume the company has a poor track record in cybersecurity. It would be expected to rank high among networking vendors with the most vulnerabilities exploited by cyber attackers. But that’s not the case.
The Chinese firm currently has two vulnerabilities listed in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, compared with 74 for Cisco Systems, 23 for Ivanti, and 20 for D-Link.
While no researchers have identified specific backdoors or zero-day vulnerabilities in TP-Link routers, experts suggest the investigation is more politically motivated.
Recent attacks on U.S. telecommunications infrastructure have increased scrutiny of Chinese-made devices, particularly those with significant consumer and enterprise market shares.
“TP-Link products are widely used across the U.S., and several models reportedly ship with firmware vulnerabilities,” said Sonu Shankar, chief product officer at Phosphorus Cybersecurity. “It’s not surprising that the company is under investigation.”
“We fully acknowledge that vulnerabilities exist across the industry. However, contrary to claims of widespread vulnerabilities, comparative data places TP-Link on par with, or in some cases ahead of, other major industry players in terms of security outcomes,” TP-Link says.
The Bottom Line
TP-Link looks to be no bigger a threat to national security than any other router maker. Banning a product that is more popular and affordable than most alternatives will be a bad move without strong justification.
A ban will be a move that hurts competition and gives an unfair edge to other brands. It will be up to the Justice Department and lawmakers to provide extremely valid reasons for an outright ban or restriction of new sales. Otherwise, it will be tinged with the allegation of a political move.
References
- wsj.com (Wsj)
