The Windows team is rolling out another Skip Ahead Insider build and this latest release is focused on improving the Mobile Connectivity options for Windows 10 users.
A new, more streamlined approach to enabling Mobile Broadband Adapters via the Device Manager settings is now being put in place to help users who have PCs with either SIM card or USB modems capabilities, to update and test out Microsoft’s generic Mobile Broadband Adapter (MBA). Here’s what the Windows Insider team has to say:
Windows is transforming the networking stack after 20 years through the Net Adapter framework. This framework introduces a new, more reliable, network driver model that inherits the goodness of the Windows driver framework while bringing an accelerated data path.
In this build, we are introducing a new and improved Mobile Broadband (MBB) USB class driver based on this Net Adapter framework. We can’t wait for you to try out our new driver in the latest RS5 Insider Preview builds.
If your PC supports Mobile Broadband, i.e., your PC relies on cellular network for connectivity, and you want to help out? Here is what you need to do:
- Step 1: Ensure your PC can support SIM cards and USB modems (either over the internal USB bus or using a USB dongle for cellular connectivity).
- Step 2: Install this build (Build 17655 and higher) and setup cellular connectivity.
- Step 3: Choose the Net Adapter based MBB USB class driver as default driver.
Navigate to Device Manager. (You can right-click on the Start button to get there.)Go to Network Adapters -> Generic Mobile Broadband Adapter or xxxxx Mobile Broadband Adapter
Right-click and choose update driver -> Browse my computer for driver software -> Click on Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer -> Choose Generic Mobile Broadband Cx Net Adapter -> Click Next.Once installed reboot for the new driver to take effect.
Ensure the status of the connection remains “Connected”.
Note: Follow the instructions in Step 5 to revert to the default driver(xxxxx Mobile Broadband Adapter), in case of issues with Net Adapter driver(Generic Mobile Broadband Cx Net Adapter).
You are all set. We are excited for you to try our driver!
Step 5: For Internet access, try using cellular network primarily by turning off Wi-Fi
To report issues and give feedback, use Feedback Hub on your PC and set Category and subcategory as Network and Internet -> Connecting to a cellular network. Use [cxwmbclass] in the summary
That appears to be the major feature in this week’s preview release, so please let us know in the comments how updating this driver goes for you.
