Starlink has received a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) exemption for its Wi-Fi routers that allows them to be produced in a foreign country.
The exemption for SpaceX lasts from July 27, 2026, to February 1, 2028, per the FCC’s website.
Starlink is not alone in receiving this relief, with Amazon’s Eero, NetGear, Askey and Sercomm among others receiving the same manufacturing exemption. To receive the exemption, companies needed to apply directly to the FCC and answer several questions, including details on their plans to expand router manufacturing stateside. (via PC Mag)
The White House imposed a ban on router manufacturing to prevent cybersecurity vulnerabilities from coming stateside from foreign actors such as China. However, companies can apply for an exemption with the FCC.
The rule only applies to new products, so Starlink’s existing Router 3 and Router Mini were already exempt. Eagle-eyed owners have seen an increase in Made in Vietnam Starlink routers being shipped, but the company continues to maintain a manufacturing facility in Bastrop, Texas.
So, this exemption could mean that Starlink is planning to launch a new router in the next few months but needs time to move manufacturing from Vietnam to the United States. Many in the industry think the next launch will be a portable Mini 2 Starlink dish. This rumour comes from the latest firmware update, which includes Mini 2 code.
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