It only started 3 days ago right? Obviously U Mobile have started blacklisting the Zyxel NR5103 modem IMEI range for all its mobile plans (except for the U Home 5G) to avoid its users from using the postpaid/prepaid mobile only plans inside a dedicated modem.

The Zyxel modem is now among the most popular model used everywhere in Malaysia. Not surprised they finally banned its IMEI for all its mobile only plans.

Bad news is that IMEI is non configurable for your Zyxel model as its firmware not open source based. The only options you have now is:

Either you subscribe to a data only broadband plan like U Home 5G/Yes Flexi 5G Broadband plan, or you'll need to change your modem which allows IMEI modification(if you want to keep your U98 plan but no guarantee the ISP will deploy further prevention methods in future).

For some suggestions, the Arcadyan & Olax branded modems can do IMEI modifications but they don't perform as well as the Zyxel because it's not tested well or supported by the local ISPs.

They don't want their mobile plans to get overlapped and mixed up with their 5G home broadband plans.

Some of their subscribers have used their main Postpaid plans to access cheaper supp lines to use in their phones instead.
Later their marketshare will be affected allowing mobile plans to compete directly against home broadband plans.

The Zyxel model which TS said he is using comes with stock firmware. It is not possible to change its IMEI.

Have you tried your UMobile U98 SIM in a 5G phone?
If it works and you can access the internet means your U98 mobile plan account is not barred.

Have you tried another telco SIM with 5G access in your modem?
If you can access the internet after swapping the SIM card of another 5G based telco in your modem means your modem is fine.

Lastly before you throw away your modem, since U Home 5G is contract free, why not go get one and try it in your modem?
If it works confirmed it's your U98 Mobile plan SIM that has blocked by U Mobile to be used in a modem!

*Just for precaution sometimes U Mobile 5G service can have downtime, do repeat a 2-3 times before confirming.

This post has been edited by petpenyubobo: Jan 21 2024, 06:30 PM

The reason is because this modem is highly popular now. Sold out on almost all the online stores.

All the Malaysian telcos have blocked this model's IMEI for all their mobile plans except whitelisting them for their Home 5G data-only plans.

They will also block the Deco X50-5G soon unless your modem can do IMEI spoofing.

You should not have any problem using it with U Mobile/Yes/CelcomDiGi 5G Home Broadband SIM-only plans.

All the other mobile plans including UNLIMITED hotpot ones meant for only to be used on 5G phones will result in no network.

These modems without the ability to modify IMEIs are more favoring to telcos/ISPs because they're meant to be used as they are - data-only modems.

It satisfies their ruling of being data only and cannot be abused with cheap plans meant only for use in phones without hotspot quotas.

UMobile blacklists all their mobile plans for this modem and whitelists the modem only for their Home 5G Broadband plans to avoid people cross using them in unwanted devices?

They don't want people to use cheap mobile plans meant for phones in modem and don't want people to use cheap unlimited home broadband SIMS in phones.

U Mobile requires mandatory APN key-in to work unlike the other operators. Have you manually specify UMobile APN for your second SIM slot and save its settings?

UMobile APN is my3g