The US ban on foreign-made Wi-Fi routers might ensnare Starlink since SpaceX has been manufacturing at the least some routers in Vietnam.
That mentioned, it shouldn’t be exhausting for the corporate to sidestep the restrictions, given SpaceX’s Starlink manufacturing unit in Texas. And the federal government has already exempted three US corporations.
Final month, the BBC reported that Starlink gave the impression to be unaffected by the router ban, since “Starlink routers are made in Texas.” However the assertion isn’t fully correct, and could also be inflicting some misinformation.
The ‘Made in USA’ label on a Starlink Gen 3 Router. (Credit score: PCMag/Brian Westover)
PCMag’s Brian Westover notes that his Starlink Wi-Fi routers, the Gen 3 and Gen 2, say “Made within the USA.” However different Starlink dish homeowners have reported their routers saying “Made in Vietnam.” This contains the Router Mini, which SpaceX launched final yr. A 2025 regulatory submitting with the Federal Communications Fee additionally says “Made in Vietnam” on the gadget.
‘Made in Vietnam’ label on a Router Mini. (Credit score: Tim Belfall)
Tim Belfall, a director at Starlink installer Westend WiFi, is predicated within the UK and has entry to a number of routers. He instructed PCMag he’s seen each the Router Mini and the Gen 3 Router gadgets listed as being manufactured in Vietnam. He additionally confirmed us two older Gen 2 routers: one made in Taiwan and the opposite within the USA.
The ‘Made in Taiwan’ label on an older Starlink router. (Credit score: Tim Belfall)
It’s not precisely a shock, contemplating the tech trade has lengthy relied on electronics producers in Asia to assist them pump out giant portions of merchandise at reasonably priced costs. A research by the International Electronics Affiliation discovered that the US is importing router merchandise primarily from Vietnam, Mexico, and Taiwan, shifting away from China as a consequence of US tariffs.
The ‘Made in Vietnam’ label on one other Gen 3 Starlink router. (Credit score: Tim Belfall)
In SpaceX’s case, the corporate lately up to date the Router Mini with a better worth and a brand new proprietary power-over-Ethernet functionality. However the brand new mannequin remains to be manufactured in Vietnam, based on the Starlink-focused YouTube channel DISHYTech, which purchased the product.
SpaceX didn’t reply to a request for remark, making it unclear how the corporate will method the US router ban. However the restriction solely impacts new, foreign-made Wi-Fi routers, not any present merchandise already accessible within the US. Thus, SpaceX can maintain promoting the Vietnamese-made Router Minis to US customers.
The corporate has additionally been increasing its Starlink manufacturing unit in Bastrop, Texas, suggesting it might probably shift extra router manufacturing to the US. Theoretically, prospects exterior the nation might obtain routers sourced from Asia.
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Nonetheless, the FCC is indicating the ban can have an effect on US-manufactured routers in the event that they comprise a foreign-produced “modular transmitter.” That may very well be a difficulty for Starlink {hardware}. For instance, the Mini dish—which encompasses a built-in router—and the Gen 2 router have been identified to make use of the MT7629, a Wi-Fi-related chip from Taiwanese chip vendor MediaTek.
SpaceX’s submitted picture exhibiting the obvious Wi-Fi module of the Mini dish. (Credit score: FCC)
Because of this, it’s attainable SpaceX will be a part of others in making use of for an exemption to the US’s router ban. To take action, an organization wants to supply an in depth plan emigrate its manufacturing to the US, together with the “nation of origin for all parts within the router.”
Thus far, the Protection Division has issued the reprieve to Netgear, Adtran, and Amazon’s eero model, all of that are US corporations. Amazon additionally acquired an exemption for future routers for the corporate’s Starlink challenger, Leo. An exemption is sweet for as much as 18 months, however the FCC’s steering says corporations can apply for an extension by submitting an “stock of the progress made on the US manufacturing and onshoring plans submitted for all earlier lined approvals.”
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Michael Kan
Principal Reporter
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I have been a journalist for over 15 years. I acquired my begin as a faculties and cities reporter in Kansas Metropolis and joined PCMag in 2017, the place I cowl satellite tv for pc web companies, cybersecurity, PC {hardware}, and extra. I am presently primarily based in San Francisco, however beforehand spent over 5 years in China, overlaying the nation’s know-how sector.
Since 2020, I’ve lined the launch and explosive development of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite tv for pc web service, writing 600+ tales on availability and have launches, but additionally the regulatory battles over the enlargement of satellite tv for pc constellations, fights with rival suppliers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the trouble to broaden into satellite-based cell service. I’ve combed by way of FCC filings for the most recent information and pushed to distant corners of California to check Starlink’s mobile service.
I additionally cowl cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC pressured Avast to pay customers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and promoting their private info to third-party shoppers, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I additionally cowl the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in entrance of a Greatest Purchase to get an RTX 3000. I am now following how the AI-driven reminiscence scarcity is impacting your complete client electronics market. I am at all times wanting to study extra, so please leap within the feedback with suggestions and ship me suggestions.
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