diff --git a/esphome/components/modem/__init__.py b/esphome/components/modem/__init__.py
index 27ddcd7c40..f264bcf348 100644
--- a/esphome/components/modem/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/modem/__init__.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from esphome.components.esp32 import add_idf_component, add_idf_sdkconfig_option
 # from esphome.components.wifi import wifi_has_sta  # uncomment after PR#4091 merged
 import esphome.config_validation as cv
 from esphome.const import (
+    CONF_DEBUG,
     CONF_ENABLE_ON_BOOT,
     CONF_ID,
     CONF_MODEL,
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
             cv.Optional(CONF_INIT_AT): cv.All(cv.ensure_list(cv.string)),
             cv.Optional(CONF_ENABLE_ON_BOOT, default=True): cv.boolean,
             cv.Optional(CONF_ENABLE_CMUX, default=False): cv.boolean,
+            cv.Optional(CONF_DEBUG, default=False): cv.boolean,  # needs also
             cv.Optional(CONF_ENABLE_GNSS, default=False): cv.boolean,
             cv.Optional(CONF_ON_NOT_RESPONDING): automation.validate_automation(
                 {
@@ -186,6 +188,9 @@ async def to_code(config):
     if config[CONF_ENABLE_GNSS]:
         cg.add(var.enable_gnss())
 
+    if config[CONF_DEBUG]:
+        cg.add(var.enable_debug())
+
     if init_at := config.get(CONF_INIT_AT, None):
         for cmd in init_at:
             cg.add(var.add_init_at_command(cmd))
diff --git a/esphome/components/modem/modem_component.h b/esphome/components/modem/modem_component.h
index 29b1888a03..6c0d3ce0dc 100644
--- a/esphome/components/modem/modem_component.h
+++ b/esphome/components/modem/modem_component.h
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ class ModemComponent : public Component {
   void set_apn(const std::string &apn) { this->apn_ = apn; }
   void set_not_responding_cb(Trigger<> *not_responding_cb) { this->not_responding_cb_ = not_responding_cb; }
   void enable_cmux() { this->cmux_ = true; }
+  void enable_gnss() { this->gnss_ = true; }
+  void enable_debug() { esp_log_level_set("command_lib", ESP_LOG_VERBOSE); }
   void add_init_at_command(const std::string &cmd) { this->init_at_commands_.push_back(cmd); }
   bool is_connected() { return this->component_state_ == ModemComponentState::CONNECTED; }
   bool is_disabled() { return this->component_state_ == ModemComponentState::DISABLED; }
@@ -120,6 +122,7 @@ class ModemComponent : public Component {
   std::vector<std::string> init_at_commands_;
   std::string use_address_;
   bool cmux_{false};
+  bool gnss_{false};
   // separate handler for `on_not_responding` (we want to know when it's ended)
   Trigger<> *not_responding_cb_{nullptr};
   CallbackManager<void(ModemComponentState, ModemComponentState)> on_state_callback_;
@@ -130,7 +133,7 @@ class ModemComponent : public Component {
   uint8_t uart_event_queue_size_ = 30;        // 10-40
   size_t uart_event_task_stack_size_ = 2048;  // 2000-6000
   uint8_t uart_event_task_priority_ = 5;      // 3-22
-  uint32_t command_delay_ = 500;              // timeout for AT commands
+  uint32_t command_delay_ = 10000;            // timeout for AT commands
   uint32_t update_interval_ = 60 * 1000;
 
   // Changes will trigger user callback
@@ -141,9 +144,6 @@ class ModemComponent : public Component {
   std::shared_ptr<DTE> dte_{nullptr};
   esp_netif_t *ppp_netif_{nullptr};
 
-  // Many operation blocks a long time.
-  std::shared_ptr<watchdog::WatchdogManager> watchdog_;
-
   struct InternalState {
     bool start{false};
     bool enabled{false};