Ubuntu
network-manager-applet package

Must enable roaming to get mobile broadband connection

Asked by Sami Mäkinen

In order to connect my mobile broadband connection, I must allow roaming in the network connection settings. Without this setting it will refuse to connect.

I do not want to do this, for fear of suddenly racking up a huge bill, because the modem may with this setting connect to a foreign network where I don't have a contract.

Apparently the root of the problem is that my connection is via a virtual operator, so by definition my home network is roaming.

What I want to do is allow roaming only for the physical carrier associated with my virtual operator, but not any other network. This should be achievable via a configuration setting, or by having the network manager applet request manual confirmation before connecting to a roaming network (showing the name of the roaming network which is available for a connection).

Network manager apparently does not allow for such a configuration. As such, this makes Ubuntu mobile broadband with virtual operators (which is not uncommon) extremely hazardous, and as such practically unusable unless you are very careful always when using mobile broadband, constantly monitoring the connection and your IP address.

Network manager version is latest standard Ubuntu 11.04 32bit.

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Ubuntu network-manager-applet Edit question
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This question was originally filed as bug #821091.

Revision history for this message
Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre (cyphermox) said : 		#1

Converting to a question since it has nothing to do with a bug in NM.

Revision history for this message
Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre (cyphermox) said : 		#2

Copying over my answer from the original bug:

You should only need to setup your connection with the correct (6 numbers?) operator ID; for the country and provider. You'll see this number in the debug logs for NM:

sudo stop network-manager
sudo killall modem-manager
sudo /usr/sbin/modem-manager --log-level=debug &
sudo start network-manager

Establish a connection, then note the numbers displayed near the +COPS message. The messages will show in /var/log/syslog.

On my system: '<CR><LF>+COPS: 0,2,"302500",2<CR><LF><CR><LF>OK<CR><LF>'

302500 is the operator code here for Videotron in Canada.

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