TP-Link Opens Largest National UK Distribution Centre in Newbury
Networking kit manufacturer TP-Link, which produces a lot of affordable broadband routers, WiFi extenders and smart home devices for ISPs and consumers, has this morning announced the opening of its “largest” UK and Ireland National Distribution Centre to date in Newbury.
The new 72,000-square-foot warehouse is said to be “double the size” of any previous TP-Link facilities, boasts a 50% increase in storage capacity allowing faster deliveries, greater stock availability and improved service for business, retail and ISP customers. The company hopes this will help them to meet the demands of customers more effectively.
“By streamlining logistics, the new facility reduces goods handling time by 62% and cuts resource usage by 66%, making operations significantly leaner. It means customers can expect shorter lead times and enhanced supply reliability, while ISPs benefit from new service opportunities like direct fulfilment and pre-configured product deliveries,” added the announcement.
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Looking ahead, TP-Link said they have already provisioned two additional expansion phases to help meet the growing demands, although they didn’t specify what this would entail.
Nelson Qiao, MD of TP-Link UK, said:
“At TP-Link, innovation is not just about technology but also about delivering a better customer experience for our partners and customers. This new facility allows us to work faster, stock more and support businesses, retailers and ISPs like never before – helping them stay ahead of constantly changing market demands.”
The company has come a long way over the past few years, and their kit tends to be fairly capable. But over in the USA there have been reports of investigators at the Commerce, Defence and Justice departments opening probes into TP-Link’s routers, due to alleged ties to Chinese cyberattacks. Some members of Congress have even called for a ban on the sale of their kit (Independent).
On the flip side, TP-Link has denied the claims, said it is unaffiliated with the China company and that its products are assembled in Vietnam. “Contrary to claims of widespread vulnerabilities, comparative data places TP-Link on par with, or in some cases ahead of, other major industry players in terms of security outcomes,” said a spokesperson for TP-Link.
All routers can and do suffer from security vulnerabilities, although not all manufacturers are as effective at patching these as others. But we’ve also seen how some similar security fears about Huawei and ZTE ended up being followed by bans in other countries.
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Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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I’d still avoid Chinese networking kit, to be on the safe side. Go for Taiwanese or American. My newest it is all UniFi or Teltonika (Lithuania), and it’s great stuff. But doubtless everyone will keep buying TP-Link because it’s cheap. They may regret it one day…
It is not just cheap, it is easy to use for people that don’t want to muck around with virtual networks and other stuff. I don’t think we will regret it any more than you will regret buying UniFi, I have not even heard of Teltonika.
The way the U.S. is going at the moment, how do you know what Trump and co will do?
I have used TP-link products for years, all my network switches are TP-link and my router is TP-link. I used a old TP-link router when I was using a wireless broadband service 11 years ago or so, and I have never had any problems, well nothing more than other people have with routers.
I did have a problem with my Switchbot hub not working over the last few days, turned out the router just needed a restart, how that made a difference I don’t know. I suppose it is like any other computer, need a reboot now and again to clear the junk in memory. After all, a router is only a computer at the end of the day.
UniFi is not really for most home users, it is made for businesses or people who want to dabble in that sort of thing. The majority of people just want to turn their router on and have it work, that is why most stick with the one that is supplied by their internet provider.
i think this we don’t trust TP-link is another American thing, where they don’t really trust anyone, unless they jump when the U.S speaks.
I would rather trust Tp-link than stuff coming out of the U.S at the moment, If there was something in TP-link network devices, then someone would have found it by now.
I’d be more concerned what snooping our government is getting up to than Chinese one.
If you think that the government are really worried about the security of Chinese products then watch this:- https://youtu.be/GumbaWxctOc?t=2
Far more trust in TP-Link kit than anything being spouted by the US inflated orang blimp. Ubiquiti is good, but expensive. Have a look at Grandstream networking kit.
Most of my network is TP-Link, never had any issues.
The only thing that isn’t is the firewall which is running pfsense (2x 10gb SFP+ and 4x 2.5gbe) and a old 24 port gigabit managed Netgear switch that I am looking to replace at some point probably a TP-Link SFP+ switch since I am managing everything with omada SDN.
The only issue I have with them is that they seem to create revisions/version of a product, each having different Firmware. Then the earlier revisions just seem to get abandoned.
That does seem to be the problem. I have a Archer AX53 v1.0, and I check once a month for updates and I have not had any for over a year, it is not a big problem, the router runs fine and have been for over two years apart from the last few days when my Switchbot hub was not working, I thought it was the hub and got a new one, turned out it was something to do with the router, a restart and all is well, apart from being £70 out of pocket 🙂
I may get another Router at some point as I want one that will take a VPN, or i might just buy a mini computer and make one
They’re not silly – by doing this it makes it more politically difficult for the UK to take future action against them as it would involve potentially closing the centre and job losses.
TP-Link is off my shopping list following an article that appeared in The Register recently looking at a failure to provide patches for older kit and a video on YouTube regarding corker of a vulnerability.
But they all do that.
I would still be using the old 12 years old TP-link I have it was not for the fact that it can’t cope with the amount for Wi-Fi stuff I have, only 2.4Mhz, but ample for what I need, even with a faster broadband speed, apart from my Mac which is on Ethernet, there is no wi-fi devices I have that need superduper speed. Even my phone only just about hit 100Mb/s
But sadly, my old TP-link router can’t cope with the amount of devices.
the chance of your router getting attacked as a household is pretty slim.
I don’t know about the safety of their equipment, but my Archer AX50 has been going strong for the past five years and I’ve never once had an issue. Prices tend to be quite a bit more reasonable vs. Netgear or Asus.
My AX53 is only 3 years old, and is fine, apart from having to reboot it a couple of days ago, maybe I should set it to do that every month or so.
Should be 2 years old, not 3
Ashame about the software on the consumer side, got myself a glinet router and I much prefer that.