I have the same problem in Ubuntu 16.04 with an Huawei E122. My workaround is to execute manually the switch using "Huawei newmode" parameter:
/usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch --default-vendor 0x12d1 --default-product 0x1446 -J -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1431179 Title: usb_modeswitch@.service fails To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/usb-modeswitch/+bug/1431179/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs