Arjun unplugged the device, connected to its Wi-Fi signal (the default SSID was still “Huawei-4G_XXXX”), and opened a browser to 192.168.8.1 . The login page loaded. Default password: admin . Inside the settings, under “Advanced > Dial-up,” he found the option:

He selected Modem Mode. Saved. Rebooted the device.

It was a sweltering Tuesday afternoon in July when Arjun’s internet died. Not the dramatic, storm-induced death of routers past, but something quieter, more insidious. His desktop PC—a loyal but aging Windows 10 machine—simply refused to acknowledge the existence of his Huawei E5573cs-322.

“Help. My Huawei dongle is dead. Windows 10 won’t see it.”

Arjun sighed. He pulled out his phone and texted his friend Meera, a network engineer.

He refreshed his email. Twenty-three unread messages. Five missed deadlines renegotiations. He didn’t care.