If you understand technology and the posted story doesn’t make any sense (like me), then go to X and a couple of comments down is a more tech-savvy description of what’s going on it.
TL;DR There’s a WWAN module (same connector as an M.2 SSD) that’s most likely cellular in nature. This means the board can connect to cellular networks.
That’s not a chipset on the backplane, that’s a daughter card on a riser. Could have easily been removed from the unit by unscrewing the stand-off and giving a gentle pull...
Unless, the entire story is layers of questionable reporting.
Is there chicanery going on? Yes. Is it using easily verifiable and probable 40 yeard old tech that doesn’t work with modern telco systems? Probably not...