Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →In April 2021, broadband-router suppliers were quoting carriers lead times of as long as 60 weeks—more than twice earlier waits—as the COVID-era semiconductor shortage spread into internet equipment. The figure described a worst-case order delay reported at the time, not a typical wait or a current estimate.
What did the 60-week router delay mean?
Bloomberg reported on April 9, 2021, that broadband providers were being quoted router order times of up to 60 weeks. Zyxel’s European regional business head, Karsten Gewecke, said the company was advising customers to order a year ahead because lead times for chips such as Broadcom components had doubled to a year or longer. Data Center Knowledge reproduced Bloomberg’s report.
The longest quotes mattered because a carrier needs suitable routers to connect new subscribers. A shortage could therefore delay customer additions and cost providers sales. At the time of the report, no carrier had completely run out, but Zyxel said the supply chain appeared strained for the next six months. Gewecke said, “We have been very close several times,” adding, “It could still happen.”
Why did the shortage reach broadband routers?
The delay was a downstream result of several constraints colliding, rather than a problem with one router model. Factory shutdowns disrupted production; demand for better home-broadband equipment rose as more people worked from home; and reopening did not restore supply smoothly. Shipping disruption and shortages of silicon wafers, memory, and power-management components added further pressure. Bloomberg’s report said shipping costs had risen as much as ten times their previous levels after factories restarted.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- DUAL-BAND WIFI 6 ROUTER: Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) technology achieves faster speeds, greater capacity and reduced network congestion compared to the previous gen. All WiFi routers require a separate modem. Dual-Band WiFi routers do not support the 6 GHz band.
- AX1800: Enjoy smoother and more stable streaming, gaming, downloading with 1.8 Gbps total bandwidth (up to 1200 Mbps on 5 GHz and up to 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz). Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
- CONNECT MORE DEVICES: Wi-Fi 6 technology communicates more data to more devices simultaneously using revolutionary OFDMA technology
- EXTENSIVE COVERAGE: Achieve the strong, reliable WiFi coverage with Archer AX1800 as it focuses signal strength to your devices far away using Beamforming technology, 4 high-gain antennas and an advanced front-end module (FEM) chipset
- OUR CYBERSECURITY COMMITMENT: TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
Chip capacity went to higher-margin products
Foundries had limited capacity and prioritized more profitable work. Routers generally offered lower margins than smartphones and computers, leaving lower-margin router segments and smaller telecom operators more exposed. Larger buyers could use their purchasing power to secure supply. Gewecke described the mounting pressure as “a snowball effect” that had become “worse and worse and worse.”
Orders and capacity were committed well in advance
Scarcity also made planning harder. Broadcom chief executive Hock Tan said 90% of the company’s 2021 supply had already been ordered. Gewecke said chipset vendors were overbooking capacity by 300%, illustrating how buyers tried to reserve more than they expected to receive. Bloomberg also reported that Zyxel parent Unizyx Holding’s share price had risen 181% over one year; that market figure is context, not a measure of router availability.
Rank #2
- Dual-band Wi-Fi with 5 GHz speeds up to 867 Mbps and 2.4 GHz speeds up to 300 Mbps, delivering 1200 Mbps of total bandwidth¹. Dual-band routers do not support 6 GHz. Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
- Covers up to 1,000 sq. ft. with four external antennas for stable wireless connections and optimal coverage.
- Supports IGMP Proxy/Snooping, Bridge and Tag VLAN to optimize IPTV streaming
- Access Point Mode - Supports AP Mode to transform your wired connection into wireless network, an ideal wireless router for home
- Advanced Security with WPA3 - The latest Wi-Fi security protocol, WPA3, brings new capabilities to improve cybersecurity in personal networks
Was it only routers that were delayed?
No. A late-2021 filing by the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) described disruption across communications equipment and related testing gear. In its December 3, 2021 petition filed with the FCC, the NTCA reported that 27% of survey respondents had customer-premises-equipment delays. More than half reported price increases of 20% to 60% for finished products or components.
The same survey found testing-equipment delays: 33% of respondents reported waits of 1 to 12 weeks, while more than 40% reported waits of 13 to 26 weeks. The petition quoted the Telecommunications Industry Association saying the semiconductor shortage affected nearly every part of communications, including routers, switches, and base stations. It also quoted the Competitive Carriers Association warning that impacts varied by supplier, with some vendors communicating lead times of up to a year. These late-2021 figures corroborate a wider, continuing disruption; they are not router-specific lead-time estimates.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
- NIGHTHAWK WIFI 6 ROUTER FOR YOUR WHOLE HOME: Delivers fast, reliable WiFi across every room of your apartment or small home for streaming, gaming, video calls, and smart home devices, all running at the same time without slowing each other down.
- WORKS WITH YOUR EXISTING INTERNET SERVICE: Pairs with your existing modem or gateway via ethernet. Compatible with most cable, fiber, DSL, and satellite providers. Some gateways and modem router combos may require bridge mode. No coax needed.
- SET UP AND MANAGE YOUR NETWORK WITH THE NIGHTHAWK APP: Download the free Nighthawk app on iOS or Android for guided setup. Manage WiFi, run speed tests, pause devices, and set up guest networks from anywhere. Active internet required.
- READY FOR THE DEVICES YOU ALREADY OWN: Your phones, laptops, and TVs work right out of the box. WiFi 6 delivers speeds up to 1.8 Gbps across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Backward compatible with WiFi 5 and earlier.
- COVERAGE IN EVERY ROOM: Covers up to 1,500 sq. ft. for up to 20 connected devices. Walls, floors, and interference can reduce range. Larger or multi-story homes may benefit from a NETGEAR Orbi mesh WiFi system.
What did the shortage mean for broadband customers?
For a household, a router shortage could make a new broadband connection or equipment replacement harder to schedule if a provider lacked the right unit. For a carrier, the greater concern was lost or delayed subscriber growth: equipment availability could constrain how quickly it connected new customers. The April 2021 report said providers had come close to running out, but did not report that any carrier had fully exhausted its router supply.
Neither the April 2021 Bloomberg report nor the NTCA’s December 2021 filing establishes router lead times, prices, or stock availability in 2026. Those historical figures should not be used to predict what a customer or provider will face now.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Dual band router upgrades to 1200 Mbps high speed internet (300mbps for 2.4GHz plus 900Mbps for 5GHz), reducing buffering and ideal for 4K stream
- Full Gigabit Ports - Gigabit Router with 4 Gigabit LAN ports, ideal for any internet plan and allow you to directly connect your wired devices
- Boosted Coverage - Four external antennas equipped with Beamforming technology extend and concentrate the Wi-Fi signals
- MU-MIMO technology - (5GHz band) allows high speeds for multiple devices simultaneously
- Access Point Mode - Supports AP Mode to transform your wired connection into wireless network, an ideal wireless router for home
Rank #4
- 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐢-𝐅𝐢 𝟕: Powered by Wi-Fi 7 technology, enjoy faster speeds with Multi-Link Operation, increased reliability with Multi-RUs, and more data capacity with 4K-QAM, delivering enhanced performance for all your devices.
- 𝐁𝐄𝟑𝟔𝟎𝟎 𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥-𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢-𝐅𝐢 𝟕 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫: Delivers up to 2882 Mbps (5 GHz), and 688 Mbps (2.4 GHz) speeds for 4K/8K streaming, AR/VR gaming & more. Dual-band routers do not support 6 GHz. Performance varies by conditions, distance, and obstacles like walls.
- 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐆𝐢𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝟐.𝟓 𝐆𝐛𝐩𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟑×𝟏𝐆𝐛𝐩𝐬 𝐋𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬: Maximize Gigabitplus internet with one 2.5G WAN/LAN port, one 2.5 Gbps LAN port, plus three additional 1 Gbps LAN ports. Break the 1G barrier for seamless, high-speed connectivity from the internet to multiple LAN devices for enhanced performance.
- 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭-𝐆𝐞𝐧 𝟐.𝟎 𝐆𝐇𝐳 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐝-𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫: Experience power and precision with a state-of-the-art processor that effortlessly manages high throughput. Eliminate lag and enjoy fast connections with minimal latency, even during heavy data transmissions.
- 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 - Covers up to 2,000 sq. ft. for up to 60 devices at a time. 4 internal antennas and beamforming technology focus Wi-Fi signals toward hard-to-reach areas. Seamlessly connect phones, TVs, and gaming consoles.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
