NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.

Forum Discussion

Gnu-Master's avatar
Gnu-Master
Tutor
Jul 15, 2026

Are EU Orbi 970 Owners Abandoned? (US is on v12.x, EU stuck on v9.x for a year!)

Is anyone else in Europe feeling completely left behind by Netgear?

I invested €1,899 into the Orbi 970 Mesh System, expecting a premium, top-tier flagship experience. Instead, European customers are being treated as an absolute afterthought.

 

Let's look at the facts:

  • North America: Currently enjoying firmware 12.1.10.12 (getting new features, stability fixes, and security updates).
  • Europe: Completely stuck on firmware 9.13.2.1 for almost a year now!

 

I understand that the ETSI certification process in Europe for WiFi 7 and the 6GHz band is different and sometimes slower than the FCC process in the US. But a delay of nearly an entire year for a $2,000 / €1,900 system is a complete failure in product management and engineering.

 

We paid the same premium price (if not more, due to taxes), yet we are forced to run outdated software. This is unacceptable. If I wanted a system with delayed, unreliable updates, I wouldn't have spent this much money on an Orbi. It seriously makes me reconsider my brand loyalty for future network upgrades.

 

To Netgear Management / OrbiTechDude: What is the official roadmap for the European update? We need a transparent answer, not just "we are working on it."

 

To other EU users: If you are as frustrated by this as I am, please reply to this thread and give it a Kudo. We need to make this visible so Netgear finally addresses the European market!

orbi 970 series

1 Reply

Replies have been turned off for this discussion
  • FURRYe38's avatar
    FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Jul 15, 2026

    FYI, EU and other has NOT been abandoned. Currently NG is beta testing WW regional FW. 

    NG intended to make sure that v12 firmware was working first in the NA region as EU and other regions have specific ISP and WiFi conditions that differ from NA region, that NG needs to review and develop and make sure it works. Once all goes well in beta testing, NG will release to EU and rest of regions. Not sure when that will be. I can only presume very soon.

     

    When Firmware is released and marked as NA ONLY, this means that only the NA region can use this firmware on there units. ALL other regions needs to avoid loading this version to avoid having issues appear. it is NOT compatible with all other regions outside of the NA region. Please wait for release WW or EU/APAC marked released firmware to load when those are released and put up on NGs download site! 

     

    FYI orbitechdude isn't NG management. NG doesn't give out time lines or roadmaps.


    FW development doesn't happen over night.