Router Shortages and Security Concerns: What Businesses and Consumers Need to Know

Routers can now be added to the growing list of tech equipment facing high demand and low supply. This isn’t just random shortages or bad timing either, it’s being driven by new U.S. regulations. In early 2026, the FCC started tightening approvals on new consumer routers made outside the country because of security concerns. Since most routers are manufactured overseas, that move has slowed down the release of new models pretty quickly. You can still buy what’s already on shelves and keep using what you have, but the flow of new gear into the market has definitely taken a hit. This follows a pattern we’ve already seen with companies like DJI, which was added to the FCC’s “Covered List” in 2025, effectively blocking new products from being approved or sold in the U.S. while existing devices remain usable.

So why are they doing this? Malicious hackers have increasingly exploited vulnerabilities in foreign-made small-office and home-office routers to gain access to American networks and threaten critical infrastructure. At the same time, governments are concerned that some hardware or firmware could potentially include hidden access mechanisms, and believe that moving production domestically could reduce those risks and improve overall security.

Businesses and consumers are both feeling the effects in similar ways. For businesses, this can mean stalled hardware refresh cycles, difficulty standardizing across multiple locations, and delays in adopting newer technologies like Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7. Preferred models may be backordered or phased out, forcing IT teams to pivot or mix equipment, which adds complexity and can impact performance and security planning. Consumers are running into a simpler version of the same issue, with fewer choices on the market, higher or fluctuating prices, and more difficulty finding newer or recommended routers. Since existing devices will continue to work, many households may end up holding onto aging equipment longer than intended. It is important to remember that using older hardware increases the importance of firmware updates and vendor support, as outdated devices are more likely to become security risks over time.

For businesses, workarounds mostly come down to planning and flexibility. Risk can be mitigated by standardizing on currently available, well-supported models, buying ahead of need, and considering enterprise-grade vendors that may be less affected by consumer-focused restrictions. Consumers can focus on purchasing devices that already have strong support lifecycles and keeping firmware up to date. In both cases, the key is to avoid last-minute upgrades and instead treat networking hardware as something to source proactively while the market stabilizes.