SpaceX's Starlink Granted FCC Exemption for Foreign‑Made Routers until 2028
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has granted SpaceX a conditional exemption that allows the company to continue importing foreign‑made Wi‑Fi routers for its Starlink satellite internet service. The 18‑month waiver runs until February 1, 2028, covering the period from March 2026 through that date. It applies to the current Starlink Router 3 and Router Mini models, which are manufactured in Vietnam (and some components in Taiwan). Any future router design would need to be produced in the United States or receive explicit approval from the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security.
SpaceX already operates a large manufacturing complex in Bastrop, Texas, capable of producing tens of thousands of Starlink satellite dishes each week, but router assembly remains tied to overseas supply chains. The FCC’s Covered List bans approval of new consumer‑grade routers made outside the United States unless an exemption is granted. In addition to SpaceX, other networking vendors such as Netgear and Amazon’s eero have received similar exemptions.
The exemption was announced under the Trump administration, with the FCC notice citing approval from the Department of Defense. The decision reflects ongoing concerns about foreign‑made networking equipment and national‑security risks.
Entities: Bastrop, Texas · Department of Defense · Federal Communications Commission · Netgear · SpaceX · Starlink · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Current Starlink router models (Router 3 and Router Mini) are manufactured in Vietnam. (all)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Companies such as Netgear and Amazon’s eero have also received similar router exemptions. (all)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The FCC’s Covered List bans approval of new consumer‑grade routers made outside the United States unless exempted. (all)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Any new Starlink router model would need U.S. manufacturing or explicit DoD/DHS approval. (all)
- [● 3 SOURCES] SpaceX operates a large manufacturing complex in Bastrop, Texas capable of producing tens of thousands of Starlink dishes weekly. (all)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The exemption lasts 18 months, covering March 2026 through February 2028. (all)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The FCC granted SpaceX a conditional exemption to import foreign-made Starlink routers until February 1, 2028. (all)