Global Wi-Fi router shipments reached 38.269 million units in the first quarter of 2026, representing a quarter-on-quarter increase of 6.1%. Among these, Taiwanese makers shipped about 16.354 million units, up 1.1% from the previous quarter. The overall market continued the recovery trend seen in the previous quarter.
Compared with the correction phase in mid-2025, when inventory adjustments and weakening demand weighed on shipments, shipment momentum has gradually stabilized, indicating that underlying demand remains supported. However, elevated component costs (particularly for main chipsets and memory products), along with fluctuations in memory supply since late 2025, have made telecom operators more cautious in equipment procurement. As a result, some demand has been deferred, leading to a more moderate pace of market recovery, according to DIGITIMES.
From a technology perspective, Wi-Fi 7 is emerging as the core standard driving the next wave of telecom equipment upgrades, pushing product portfolios toward higher-end segments.
Chart 1: Key factors affecting global Wi-Fi router shipments in 1Q26
Chart 4: Taiwan Wi-Fi router production value, 1Q25-2Q26 (US$m)
Chart 6: Taiwan Wi-Fi router shipment share by technology, 1Q25-2Q26
Chart 7: Taiwan Wi-Fi router shipment share by production location, 1Q25-2Q26
Chart 8: Taiwan Wi-Fi router shipment share by market, 1Q25-2Q26
Chart 9: Taiwan Wi-Fi router shipment share by customer type, 1Q25-2Q26
