The US ban on foreign-made Wi-Fi routers might ensnare Starlink since SpaceX has been manufacturing at the very least some routers in Vietnam.
That stated, it shouldn’t be laborious for the corporate to sidestep the restrictions, given SpaceX’s Starlink manufacturing facility in Texas. And the federal government has already exempted three US firms.
Final month, the BBC reported that Starlink seemed to be unaffected by the router ban, since “Starlink routers are made in Texas.” However the assertion isn’t solely 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 house owners have reported their routers saying “Made in Vietnam.” This consists of the Router Mini, which SpaceX launched final 12 months. 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 advised PCMag he’s seen each the Router Mini and the Gen 3 Router units 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 massive portions of merchandise at reasonably priced costs. A examine 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 result 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 not too long ago up to date the Router Mini with a better worth and a brand new proprietary power-over-Ethernet functionality. However the brand new mannequin continues to be manufactured in Vietnam, in accordance to 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 strategy the US router ban. However the restriction solely impacts new, foreign-made Wi-Fi routers, not any present merchandise already obtainable within the US. Thus, SpaceX can hold promoting the Vietnamese-made Router Minis to US customers.
The corporate has additionally been increasing its Starlink manufacturing facility in Bastrop, Texas, suggesting it will probably shift extra router manufacturing to the US. Theoretically, prospects exterior the nation might obtain routers sourced from Asia.
Nonetheless, the FCC is indicating the ban can have an effect on US-manufactured routers in the event that they include a foreign-produced “modular transmitter.” That might be a difficulty for Starlink {hardware}. For instance, the Mini dish—which includes a built-in router—and the Gen 2 router have been recognized 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)
In consequence, 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 offer an in depth plan emigrate its manufacturing to the US, together with the “nation of origin for all parts within the router.”
To date, the Protection Division has issued the reprieve to Netgear, Adtran, and Amazon’s eero model, all of that are US firms. Amazon additionally obtained 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 firms 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.”
About Our Knowledgeable
Michael Kan
Principal Reporter
Expertise
I have been a journalist for over 15 years. I received my begin as a colleges and cities reporter in Kansas Metropolis and joined PCMag in 2017, the place I cowl satellite tv for pc web providers, cybersecurity, PC {hardware}, and extra. I am presently based mostly in San Francisco, however beforehand spent over 5 years in China, masking the nation’s know-how sector.
Since 2020, I’ve lined the launch and explosive progress of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite tv for pc web service, writing 600+ tales on availability and have launches, but in addition the regulatory battles over the growth of satellite tv for pc constellations, fights with rival suppliers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the hassle to increase into satellite-based cellular service. I’ve combed by means of FCC filings for the newest 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 compelled Avast to pay customers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and promoting their private data 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 Finest Purchase to get an RTX 3000. I am now following how the AI-driven reminiscence scarcity is impacting the whole shopper electronics market. I am at all times wanting to be taught extra, so please leap within the feedback with suggestions and ship me ideas.
