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TP-Link

TP-Link
Native name
联洲国际技术有限公司
Company typePrivate
IndustryNetworking hardware, Telecoms equipment, IP cameras
Founded1996; 29 years ago (1996)
Founder
  • Zhao Jianjun
  • Zhao Jiaxing
Headquarters
Nanshan, Shenzhen
Area served
Worldwide
Products
Brands
  • TP-Link
  • Deco
  • Omada
  • VIGI
  • Aginet
  • Tapo
  • Kasa Smart
  • Mercusys
Number of employees
26,000+[1] (2019)
Websitewww.tp-link.com Edit this at Wikidata

TP-Link is a Chinese company that manufactures network equipment and smart home products. The company was established in 1996 in Shenzhen. TP-Link's main headquarters is located in Nanshan, Shenzhen;[2] there is a smaller headquarters in Irvine, California.[3] It has subsidiaries operating globally and owns several brands, including Deco, Tapo, Omada, VIGI, Aginet, Kasa Smart, and Mercusys.[4][5][6] The company has been investigated by the governments of India and the United States for national security risks.[7][8]

History

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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).[9] Zhao Jianjun runs the company's California operations.[7] 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.[10]

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.[11] In 2022, TP-Link Corporation began to separate from TP-LINK Technologies Co., Ltd. (TP-LINK) in China. After the separation, TP-Link Corporation became a standalone entity in all shareholdings and all operational aspects, such as workforce, research and development, production, marketing, and customer service.[12][non-primary source needed]

In a 2023 patent dispute lawsuit, a U.S. federal judge rejected the company's argument that there was no link between its U.S. and China businesses.[7]

In May 2024, the government of India issued a warning saying that TP-Link routers present a security risk.[13][7][14]

In May 2024, TP-Link announced the completion of corporate restructuring, with secondary headquarters in the United States and Singapore.[15]

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.[16][17][18] The U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ), Commerce, and Defense opened investigations into the company,[8] with the DOJ probing whether TP-Link sells its routers below cost.[7] 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.[19] A spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce, He Yongqian, responded to this matter in a press conference, saying that relevant investigations from the United States should be objective and rational.[20]

Products

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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.[21] TP-Link manufactures smart home devices under their Kasa Smart and Tapo product lines.[22][23] The company also participates in several research and development projects with the Chinese government.[7]

Manufacturing

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TP-Link manufactures its products in-house, as opposed to outsourcing to original design manufacturers (ODMs).[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Konzernprofil TP-Link Deutschland". Archived from the original on 6 November 2020.
  2. ^ "TP Link Headquarters". Archived from the original on 31 January 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Corporate Information". Archived from the original on 26 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  4. ^ "TP-Link announces new Mercusys Product Line". 29 April 2021. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  5. ^ "About TP-Link". Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Information about Mercusys". connectec.uk. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Somerville, Heather; Volz, Dustin; Viswanatha, Aruna (18 December 2024). "U.S. Weighs Ban on Chinese-Made Router in Millions of American Homes". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  8. ^ a b Lyngaas, Sean (19 December 2024). "US is investigating potential national security risks posed by internet routers used by millions". CNN. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  9. ^ Berman, Noah (9 January 2025). "How Chinese Is TP-Link?". The Wire China. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  10. ^ Toukhi, Farah Al (4 November 2024). "Power 25: The tech titans of the Middle East". Wired Middle East. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  11. ^ Richard Xu (15 September 2013). "Richard Xu, Vice President - TP-Link". Businessinterviews.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  12. ^ "TP-Link Corporation Group Announces Completion of Corporate Restructuring, Marking a New Era in its Future Evolution".
  13. ^ "Govt warns of a vulnerability in Wi-Fi routers that could allow a hacker to access your connected devices". India Today. 29 May 2024. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Govt raises alarm over critical vulnerability in TP-Link routers". Mint. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  15. ^ "TP-Link completes restructuring with 2 HQ". Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  16. ^ Alper, Alexandra (15 August 2024). "US lawmakers urge probe of WiFi router maker TP-Link over fears of Chinese cyber attacks". Reuters. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  17. ^ Kan, Michael. "US Lawmakers Demand Probe Into TP-Link, Claiming Spying Risks From China". PCMAG. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  18. ^ "U.S. lawmakers request probe into Chinese router manufacturer TP-Link — letter cites cybersecurity vulnerabilities with TP-Link routers". Tom's Hardware. 19 August 2024. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  19. ^ "US considers banning TP-Link routers over cybersecurity risks". BleepingComputer. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  20. ^ "China opposes U.S. suppression of Chinese companies under national security guise: spokesperson". Xinhua. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  21. ^ "TP-Link gets a new logo as it aims for smart home". CNET. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  22. ^ "Smart Home | TP-Link". www.tp-link.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  23. ^ "Welcome to Tapo". www.tapo.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  24. ^ "TP-LINK Targets Aggressive U.S. Expansion, VARs Included". CRN. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
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