Can an iPhone Act as a Thread Border Router Without a HomePod or Apple TV?

Question

Created 17h

Replies 1

Boosts 0

Participants 2

Can an iPhone itself act as a Thread Border Router (OTBR) and provide Thread network connectivity to IP-based networks without having a HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV acting as a Thread Border Router on the same network?

Specifically:

Does any current iPhone model support acting as a Thread Border Router?

If the iPhone has Thread hardware support, can an iOS application use Apple’s APIs/frameworks to enable or control this functionality?

Can an iPhone independently create/manage a Thread network and route traffic between the Thread network and Wi-Fi/cellular network?

Is a HomePod mini, HomePod, or Apple TV (or another dedicated Thread Border Router) mandatory for an iPhone to communicate with Thread devices over IP?

If an iPhone cannot act as a Border Router, is there any supported Apple API that allows an app to perform equivalent functionality?

I’m specifically looking for the officially supported iOS/Apple platform capabilities, rather than third-party or undocumented solutions.

Any clarification regarding the current iPhone hardware and iOS versions that support Thread would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Sarnoharri OP

5h

Hello, I used my 15 pro max as a thread router with 4 simcards, 2Gb/s each and bsd based firewall (prebootBSDvpn) that is the only one that does not leak according to our Finnish defense forces cyberwarfare unit reservists, who are our red teaml. It also had pretty modified kernel but nothing special but the for the Darwin/nextstep/iOS had to prettty much go. I had permission for this from apple but I can't disclose details, Check nextstep and bsd dokumentation, or just put a put a 5g dongle or rj45 on it and make the drivers in Xcode.