Yes, its simple and it’s cheap. Just search on ebay for your modem model ie E1553 with some key words like “unlock code”, and you should hopefully find some suppliers, generally in the UK.
Just purchase the item, and during paypal payment add a message that has:
IMEI no. (15 digits) (obtainable from your modems software or box)
Modem Model no. (ie. e180)
Within 24 hours they’ll get back to you with the instructions & unlock code that you enter in the prompt that pops up when you insert a carrier sim other than that supplied.
That’s it, its unlocked now, and certainly a lot cheaper than the $100 odd dollar fee your carrier wanted to charge…
Update:
You need to also add your ISP’s profile to your connection software, and these changes for me, needed an update to the modems connection software “Mobile Partner”. This unlocks all the settings i needed to change ie PAP or CHAP by reverting the modem back to unbranded saftware / firmware.
so what you want to do is update your modem with either of these confirmed to work with the e1553:
Mobile Partner v. 11.030.01.07.03
http://www.dc-unlocker.com/downloads/open/37
or this newer one:
Mobile Partner v. 11.300.05.00.03
http://www.huawei.com/mobileweb/en/file/download.do?f=41470&ctype=1
(ignore the different modem model’s, just open the downloaded file in winrar, and run it, with the sim removed and connection software closed)