Asus Receives FCC Conditional Approval for Router Sales in the US

FCC Grants Conditional Approval to Asus

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued conditional approval for Asus's wireless networking products to be sold in the United States. This decision follows a period of increased scrutiny and bans by the FCC on router manufacturers. The conditional approval is valid for 18 months from its issuance date, until March 6, 2018.

Approved Product Portfolio

Asus's entire wireless networking portfolio, including RT Series, ROG GT Series, OG Strix GS Series, TUF Gaming Series, ExpertWiFi Series, ZenWiFi Mesh Series, 5G MiFi Series, wireless repeaters, and wireless access points, has been cleared for sale. The FCC stated that these approvals confirm the devices do not pose risks to U.S. national security.

Impact on Wi-Fi 8 Plans

This approval is significant for Asus as it prepares to launch a new generation of Wi-Fi 8 products. Asus has already showcased a concept ROG NeoCore Wi-Fi 8 router and announced its first consumer Wi-Fi 8 router, the ROG Rapture GT-BN98 Pro, which promises a 2x throughput increase over current Wi-Fi 7 products. The FCC's decision allows Asus to proceed with these releases.

Competitive Landscape

Asus joins Netgear and Amazon Eero/Leo on the list of companies that have received conditional approval. However, TP-Link, a major player in the U.S. wireless router market, has not yet secured FCC approval, which could impact its market position relative to approved competitors.