Company:TP-Link

From HandWiki
TP-Link
Native name
联洲国际技术有限公司
TypePrivate
IndustryNetworking hardware, Telecoms equipment, IP cameras
Founded1996; 30 years ago (1996)
Founder
  • Zhao Jianjun
  • Zhao Jiaxing
Headquarters
Nanshan, Shenzhen (domestic operations)
Irvine, California (international operations)
Area served
Worldwide
Products
Brands
  • TP-Link
  • Deco
  • Omada
  • VIGI
  • Aginet
  • Tapo
  • Kasa Smart
  • Mercusys
Number of employees
26,000+[1] (2019)
Website{{{1}}}

TP-Link is a Chinese technology company that manufactures network equipment and smart home products. The company was established in 1996 in Shenzhen. It has subsidiaries operating globally and owns several brands, including Deco, Tapo, Omada, Omada Pro, VIGI, Aginet, Kasa Smart, and Mercusys.[2][3]

The company has been investigated by the governments of India and the United States, citing national security risks.[4][5]

Products

TP-Link manufactures its products in-house, as opposed to outsourcing to original design manufacturers (ODMs).[6] TP-Link products include high speed cable modems, mobile phones, ADSL, range extenders, routers, switches, IP cameras, power-line adapters, print servers, media converters, wireless adapters, power banks, USB hubs, smart home devices, and home robots. TP-Link also manufactured the OnHub router for Google.[7] TP-Link manufactures smart home devices under their Kasa Smart and Tapo product lines.[8][9] The company also participates in several research and development projects with the Chinese government.[4]

History

Original TP-Link logo from 1996 to 2016.

TP-Link was founded in 1996 by two brothers, Zhao Jianjun (赵建军 Zhào Jiànjūn) and Zhao Jiaxing (赵佳兴 Zhào Jiāxīng).[10] Zhao Jianjun runs the company's international operations.[4] The company name was based on the concept of "twisted pair link" invented by Alexander Graham Bell, a kind of cabling that reduces electromagnetic interference.[11]

TP-Link began its first international expansion in 2005. In 2007, the company moved into a new 100,000-square-meter headquarters and facilities at Shenzhen's Hi-Tech Industry Park. TP-Link USA was established in 2008.[12] In 2022, TP-Link Corporation began to separate from TP-LINK Technologies Co., Ltd. in China.[13]

In May 2024, TP-Link announced the completion of corporate restructuring, with newer global headquarters in the United States and Singapore.[14] In October 2024, TP-Link announced a single California headquarters.[4]

Disputes

In a 2023 patent dispute lawsuit in Texas, a United States federal judge rejected the company's argument that there was no link between its United States and China businesses.[4]

In November 2025, TP-Link filed a lawsuit in Delaware federal court claiming that Netgear orchestrated a smear by planting false claims with journalists and internet influencers with the goal of scaring off customers. They claimed that Netgear's action violated a 2024 settlement of a patent fight. That accord, in which TP-Link agreed to pay Netgear $135 million, includes a provision that the public company promises not to disparaged its rival.[15]

National security concerns

In May 2024, the government of India issued a warning saying that TP-Link TP-Link Archer C5400X routers with versions prior to C5400X(EU)_V1_1.1.7 Build 20240510 present a security risk and that they should be updated to correct this flaw.[16][4][17]

In August 2024, the United States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party asked the United States Department of Commerce to investigate TP-Link and its affiliates for potential national security risks.[18][19][20] The U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ), Commerce, and Defense opened investigations into the company,[5] with the DOJ probing whether TP-Link sells its routers below cost.[4] A spokesperson from TP-Link's United States subsidiary responded via The Wall Street Journal that they are welcome to engage with the government of the United States to demonstrate the security of their products, and the commitment to address national security risks.[21] The majority of its employees, including those in research and development, are located in China.[22]

In 2024, TP-Link separated its international and domestic operations in response to increased U.S. government scrutiny.[22][10]

In December 2025, the Federal Trade Commission announced an investigation into TP-Link for deceiving consumers by allegedly concealing its connections to China.[23] In January 2026, Texas governor Greg Abbott prohibited TP-Link products on all government devices and networks.[24] In February 2026, a proposed federal ban on TP-Link products was paused in anticipation of a summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.[25] In February 2026, Texas attorney general Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against TP-Link, alleging deceptive marketing and backdoor access to its products for the Chinese government.[26][13] In March 2026, the Federal Communications Commission banned the importation of all new foreign-made router models.[27]

References

  1. ↑ "Konzernprofil TP-Link Deutschland". https://www.tp-link.com/de/about-us/corporate-profile/. 
  2. ↑ "TP-Link announces new Mercusys Product Line". 29 April 2021. https://www.gdgtme.com/gadgets/tp-link-announces-new-mercusys-product-line/. 
  3. ↑ "Information about Mercusys". https://connectec.uk/brands/mercusys. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Somerville, Heather; Volz, Dustin; Viswanatha, Aruna (18 December 2024). "U.S. Weighs Ban on Chinese-Made Router in Millions of American Homes" (in en-US). https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/us-ban-china-router-tp-link-systems-7d7507e6. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lyngaas, Sean (2024-12-19). "US is investigating potential national security risks posed by internet routers used by millions" (in en). https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/18/politics/us-investigating-potential-national-security-risks-internet-routers/index.html. 
  6. ↑ "TP-LINK Targets Aggressive U.S. Expansion, VARs Included". CRN. http://www.crn.com/news/networking/232300777/tp-link-targets-aggressive-u-s-expansion-vars-included.htm. 
  7. ↑ "TP-Link gets a new logo as it aims for smart home". https://www.cnet.com/news/tp-link-creates-a-new-logo-as-it-heads-towards-smart-home/. 
  8. ↑ "Smart Home | TP-Link" (in en-us). https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/smart-home/. 
  9. ↑ "Welcome to Tapo" (in en-hk). https://www.tapo.com/en/. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Berman, Noah (2025-01-09). "How Chinese Is TP-Link?" (in en-US). https://www.thewirechina.com/2025/01/09/how-chinese-is-tp-link/. 
  11. ↑ Toukhi, Farah Al (2024-11-04). "Power 25: The tech titans of the Middle East". https://wired.me/business/big-tech/power-25-the-tech-titans-of-the-middle-east/. 
  12. ↑ Richard Xu (2013-09-15). "Richard Xu, Vice President - TP-Link". Businessinterviews.com. http://www.businessinterviews.com/Richard-Xu-TP-Link. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Richards, David (2026-02-17). "US Authorities Sues TP-Link, Alleges Chinese Security Ties and Deceptive Marketing as Ban Pressure Mounts - channelnews" (in en-US). https://www.channelnews.com.au/us-authorities-sues-tp-link-alleges-chinese-security-ties-and-deceptive-marketing-as-ban-pressure-mounts/. 
  14. ↑ "TP-Link completes restructuring with 2 HQ". https://www.telecompaper.com/news/tp-link-completes-restructuring-with-2-hq-separate-chinese-business--1500137. 
  15. ↑ O'Keefe, Kate; Feeley, Jef (2025-11-19). "Netgear Accused by Rival of ‘China’ Smear to Stoke Security Fear" (in en). Bloomberg News. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-19/netgear-accused-by-rival-of-china-smear-to-stoke-security-fear. 
  16. ↑ "Govt warns of a vulnerability in Wi-Fi routers that could allow a hacker to access your connected devices" (in en). 2024-05-29. https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/govt-warns-of-a-vulnerability-in-your-wi-fi-router-that-could-allow-a-hacker-to-access-your-connected-devices-2545132-2024-05-29. 
  17. ↑ "Govt raises alarm over critical vulnerability in TP-Link routers". Mint. 29 May 2024. https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/govt-raises-alarm-over-critical-vulnerability-in-tp-link-routers-how-to-protect-your-device-11716988647167.html. 
  18. ↑ Alper, Alexandra (August 15, 2024). "US lawmakers urge probe of WiFi router maker TP-Link over fears of Chinese cyber attacks". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-lawmakers-urge-probe-wifi-router-maker-tp-link-over-fears-chinese-cyber-2024-08-15/. 
  19. ↑ Kan, Michael. "US Lawmakers Demand Probe Into TP-Link, Claiming Spying Risks From China" (in en). https://www.pcmag.com/news/us-lawmakers-demand-probe-into-tp-link-claiming-spying-risks-from-china. 
  20. ↑ "U.S. lawmakers request probe into Chinese router manufacturer TP-Link — letter cites cybersecurity vulnerabilities with TP-Link routers" (in en). 2024-08-19. https://www.tomshardware.com/networking/routers/us-lawmakers-request-probe-into-chinese-router-manufacturer-tp-link-letter-cites-cybersecurity-vulnerabilities-with-tp-link-routers. 
  21. ↑ "US considers banning TP-Link routers over cybersecurity risks" (in en-us). https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/us-considers-banning-tp-link-routers-over-cybersecurity-risks/. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 O'Keeffe, Kate (April 11, 2025). "Wi-Fi Giant TP-Link's US Future Hinges on Its Claimed Split From China". Bloomberg News. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-11/wi-fi-giant-tp-link-s-us-future-hinges-on-its-claimed-split-from-china. 
  23. ↑ "FTC examines whether TP-Link misled US consumers about its China split, source says". Reuters. 4 December 2025. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/ftc-examines-whether-tp-link-misled-us-consumers-about-its-china-split-source-2025-12-04/. 
  24. ↑ Rozen, Courtney; Alper, Alexandra; Sherpardson, David (January 26, 2026). "Texas governor bars state employees from using Shein, Alibaba products". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/technology/texas-governor-bars-state-employees-using-alibaba-temu-products-2026-01-26/. 
  25. ↑ Alper, Alexandra (February 12, 2026). "Trump pauses China tech bans ahead of Xi summit". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/us-china-trade-detente-fuels-mothballing-key-china-tech-curbs-2026-02-12/. 
  26. ↑ "Texas sues TP-Link alleging Chinese government access to its devices". Reuters. February 17, 2026. https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/texas-sues-tp-link-alleging-chinese-government-access-its-devices-2026-02-17/. 
  27. ↑ Shepardson, David (March 23, 2026). "US regulator bans imports of new foreign-made routers, citing security concerns". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/fcc-banning-imports-new-chinese-made-routers-citing-security-concerns-2026-03-23/. 
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