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Starlink wins US exemption for imported routers
The FCC gave Starlink until February 2028 to import Wi-Fi routers made in Vietnam, delaying US manufacturing requirements.
Image: iXBT
SpaceX has secured an 18-month exemption from a US ban on newly imported foreign-made consumer routers, allowing Starlink to continue producing and shipping its routers from overseas while it prepares for a possible manufacturing move to the United States.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Starlink temporary permission to use imported Wi-Fi routers until February 1, 2028. The exemption covers equipment currently manufactured in Vietnam and runs for the maximum available period of 18 months.
Photo: Starlink.com
Which Starlink routers are covered
The US administration introduced restrictions on certain imported routers over cybersecurity concerns. Because the rules primarily target new models, Starlink’s existing Router 3 and Router Mini can continue to be manufactured abroad.
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Companies developing new routers will have to produce them in the US or obtain a separate authorization from the regulator. SpaceX’s request for an exemption may indicate that it is preparing a new generation of Starlink networking hardware.
The company is already expanding production of satellite terminals, including its new compact V5 antenna, and is working on additional devices. SpaceX operates a large factory in Texas capable of producing more than 20,000 Starlink antennas per week, but some of its networking equipment is still made in Asia, including Vietnam.
Moving that production to the US could raise SpaceX’s costs and potentially increase device prices for customers. In April 2026, the FCC issued a new ruling banning the import of all new foreign-made consumer routers.
Computing Editor
Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.
via iXBT
