WWAN cellular modem subsystem (Qualcomm, Intel IOSM, MediaTek T7xx)
Linux's framework and drivers for cellular wireless wide-area network modems, covering 4G/LTE and 5G M.2 and PCIe modules from Qualcomm (via MHI, RPMSG, and BAM transports), Intel (IOSM), and MediaTek (T7xx). It is what laptops, routers, and embedded devices use to talk to built-in cellular modems for mobile broadband.
recommendation
It should stay because this is an actively developed framework, not a single legacy driver. New feature work was still landing in late 2025 and early 2026, and the cellular M.2 modems it supports (such as Quectel's 5G RM520N modules built on Qualcomm silicon) are still being sold for new laptops, routers, and embedded gear in 2025.
repository signals
sources
- git.kernel.org
The directory is an active WWAN subsystem containing core support plus Qualcomm, Intel IOSM, and MediaTek T7xx modem drivers, not a single obsolete driver.
- lore.kernel.org
WWAN core saw new feature work in 2026 ('add NMEA port support'), indicating ongoing upstream development rather than retirement.
- lore.kernel.org
Older Qualcomm-related WWAN code still receives maintenance cleanups in 2025, with no evidence here of removal planning.
- quectel.com
New M.2 5G WWAN modules based on Qualcomm platforms were still marketed recently for Linux/PCIe deployments, so the covered use case remains live in new hardware.
codex reasoning notes (technical)
`drivers/net/wwan` is a live subsystem directory, not a dead leaf: local tree inspection showed core code plus multiple active vendor drivers and subdirs. `git.kernel.org` URL is canonical recall for the in-tree Kconfig. The two lore URLs were obtained via `lore_activity` on `drivers/net/wwan/wwan_core.c` and `drivers/net/wwan/qcom_bam_dmux.c`; they show feature work in 2026 and maintenance in 2025, with no removal/deprecation signal. The Quectel URL was obtained via web search and supports that WWAN M.2 modem hardware for this stack is still sold for new deployments. Because the directory is both framework and current drivers, there is no single upstream replacement; recommendation is to keep.