I'm waiting for a #linuxphone that comes with a universal software defined radio peripherial instead of a closed LTE/4G modem and the calling, texting and networking is just realized on the SDR module.

@licho While it's possible, LTE isn't easy to do on SDR - you need full duplex and you'll need a coprocessor for it anyway, or your main AP won't ever sleep and will be under constant real-time pressure. Then you'll need to get it certified if you want to actually use it on public networks. I'm afraid you'd end up with something uncannily similar to a closed LTE/4G modem, just slower and hungrier for power 😜

@dos Thank you for those insights :) You seriously aren't allowed to use a phone with an unlicensed modem? I thought licenses are only required for antennae BTS stuff, and low power "client" devices can be whatever. Like I don't think anyone verifies and licenses every silly IOT device. Or do they? O.o

@licho These devices usually contain a broadband module (not unlike the ones in Librem 5 or PinePhone) that's already certified.

And yes, under most jurisdictions you're not allowed to transmit at all without a license; the bands that you can use for stuff like Wi-Fi etc. (with some restrictions) are explicitly allowed to be used unlicensed, and the frequencies used in cellular networks aren't included there: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISM_radio_band

@dos oh wow. Thanks for answering my very newbie questions btw.

@dos I suppose that if I actually use it in a way that is indistinguishable from the standard it's fine, nobody would ever know. The problem would appear if I had a bug, experimented with some alternative protocols or tried to sell an unlicensed modem. Because as I understand it's the device that has the license, not the user, right? Like it's fine until you don't spectacularly mess up or try to sell it.

@licho IANAL; the viability of "it's illegal, but I'll be fine unless I get caught" approach is something you'll have to consider by yourself 😂