Yeah I've seen plenty of kernels that start with a 2 with no forward path possible due to "we don't know how to get our driver working anymore"

I really hope those don't have access to any networks.

good chance the linux running in your high end phone's modem runs 2.x kernel.

i dont deal with that anymorrle, but last one I saw with 2.x was the pixel 6 pro.

Just check, my 2YO phone runs kernel 6.6, not latest but i think good enough for production.

Edited: I misunderstood what you mean, you were talking about the modem subsystem, sorry.

I don't think you misunderstood, I think they're talking out their arse. Modems don't run Linux, they run RTOS operating systems. ShannonOS in the case of the Pixel 6 with a exynos modem

I was working with a Telit 5G modem recently, and it runs OpenWrt. I was flabbergasted when I saw that.

https://www.telit.com/devices/fe990bxx/ - "High-performance quad-core CPU and Linux OpenWRT OS, ideal for router development without an external CPU"

Plenty of cellular modems run Linux.

The pixel 6 pro runs ShannonOS an RTOS system, it's an exynos modem