Why people still ask The desire to “upgrade” older modems reveals several things. First, frustration at planned obsolescence—networks evolve, carriers sunset 3G in many regions, and consumers feel abandoned if their perfectly functional devices stop connecting. Second, there’s a DIY ethos: people with technical skill expect they can outsmart a market by hacking hardware and firmware. Third, constraints—budget, availability of newer devices, or environmental concerns around e-waste—push users to seek extensions to product life rather than buying replacements.