Open-Source 3G/4G support for Linux?

samedi 30 juillet 2016

Hi guys,

I am looking for some advice for if it is possible to connect to 3G/4G networks using open-source software and firmware to prevent the risk of backdoors etc?

I have looked at USB dongles but am not entirely sure if they can be run freely. Am I correct in assuming that 3G dongles contain a separate OS that you connect to through a sort of USB to Ethernet adapter, kind of like a mini router? If so has anyone free'd this option up with the likes of open-wrt etc? If not is there a way to run dongles without the use of the internal firmware and just the use of Linux modules?

WWAN cards seem like another option to consider. Are they essentially the same thing as a USB dongle or do they operate kind of like a wlan card that loads Linuxes firmware at boot time? If it is the latter does that mean they can be run without the use of embedded firmware etc?