diff --git a/cmake/Modules/BuildProtobuf.cmake b/cmake/Modules/BuildProtobuf.cmake
index 8f7c60278..2002379c6 100644
--- a/cmake/Modules/BuildProtobuf.cmake
+++ b/cmake/Modules/BuildProtobuf.cmake
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # GNSS-SDR is a Global Navigation Satellite System software-defined receiver.
 # This file is part of GNSS-SDR.
 #
-# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2023-2025 C. Fernandez-Prades cfernandez(at)cttc.es
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2023-2026 C. Fernandez-Prades cfernandez(at)cttc.es
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
 
 # Downloads and builds the protoc compiler and static libraries of Protocol
@@ -11,9 +11,32 @@
 #
 # Creates protobuf::libprotobuf and protobuf::protoc imported targets.
 
+if(NOT COMMAND set_package_properties)
+    include(FeatureSummary)
+endif()
+
+if(NOT COMMAND ExternalProject_Add)
+    include(ExternalProject)
+endif()
+
+include(GNUInstallDirs)
+if(CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS "3.10")
+    message(FATAL_ERROR
+        "Building bundled Protocol Buffers requires CMake >= 3.10. "
+        "Use a system Protobuf package with this CMake version."
+    )
+endif()
 
 if(NOT GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION)
-    set(GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION "30.2")
+    set(GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION "22.0")
+endif()
+if((NOT GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION VERSION_LESS "30.0") AND
+        CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS "3.16")
+    message(FATAL_ERROR
+        "Building bundled Protocol Buffers ${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION} "
+        "requires CMake >= 3.16. Use a system Protobuf package, or select "
+        "an older bundled Protobuf version."
+    )
 endif()
 
 if(NOT GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR)
@@ -24,8 +47,8 @@ if(NOT ZLIB_FOUND)
     find_package(ZLIB)
     set_package_properties(ZLIB PROPERTIES
         URL "https://www.zlib.net/"
-        PURPOSE "Required to build Protocol Buffers."
-        TYPE REQUIRED
+        PURPOSE "Enables gzip stream support in Protocol Buffers."
+        TYPE RECOMMENDED
     )
     if(ZLIB_FOUND AND ZLIB_VERSION_STRING)
         set_package_properties(ZLIB PROPERTIES
@@ -38,26 +61,83 @@ if(NOT ZLIB_FOUND)
     endif()
     if(ZLIB_FOUND)
         set(ZLIB_LIBRARIES_ ${ZLIB_LIBRARIES})
-        set(USE_ZLIB -Dprotobuf_WITH_ZLIB=ON)
+        set(USE_ZLIB_ -Dprotobuf_WITH_ZLIB=ON)
     else()
         set(ZLIB_LIBRARIES_ "")
-        set(USE_ZLIB -Dprotobuf_WITH_ZLIB=OFF)
+        set(USE_ZLIB_ -Dprotobuf_WITH_ZLIB=OFF)
     endif()
 else()
     set(ZLIB_LIBRARIES_ ${ZLIB_LIBRARIES})
-    set(USE_ZLIB -Dprotobuf_WITH_ZLIB=ON)
+    set(USE_ZLIB_ -Dprotobuf_WITH_ZLIB=ON)
 endif()
 
-include(GNUInstallDirs)
-
-list(APPEND UTF8_LIBRARIES
+set(UTF8_LIBRARIES
     ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_PREFIX}utf8_validity${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX}
     ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_PREFIX}utf8_range${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX}
 )
 
-set(ABSL_OPTION "")
-if(CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_LESS "3.16" OR GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION VERSION_LESS "30.0")
-    set(ABSL_OPTION "-Dprotobuf_ABSL_PROVIDER=package")
+set(ABSL_DIR_OPTION_ "")
+if(DEFINED absl_DIR)
+    set(ABSL_DIR_OPTION_ "-Dabsl_DIR=${absl_DIR}")
+endif()
+
+# Protobuf < 30.0 uses the protobuf_ABSL_PROVIDER option.  For newer
+# releases, request local dependencies only so the external build uses the
+# dependencies already found or installed by the main project.
+set(GNSSSDR_ABSL_PROVIDER_ "")
+if(GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION VERSION_LESS "30.0")
+    set(GNSSSDR_ABSL_PROVIDER_ "-Dprotobuf_ABSL_PROVIDER=package")
+else()
+    set(GNSSSDR_ABSL_PROVIDER_ "-Dprotobuf_LOCAL_DEPENDENCIES_ONLY=ON")
+endif()
+
+if(NOT DEFINED PROTOBUF_PATCH_COMMAND)
+    set(PROTOBUF_PATCH_COMMAND "")
+endif()
+
+set(PROTOBUF_CXX_STANDARD_ "14")
+if(NOT GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION VERSION_LESS "30.0")
+    set(PROTOBUF_CXX_STANDARD_ "17")
+endif()
+
+set(PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF_
+    ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_PREFIX}protobuf${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX}
+)
+
+set(PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF_DEBUG_
+    ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_PREFIX}protobufd${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX}
+)
+
+set(PROTOBUF_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE_
+    ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/bin/protoc${CMAKE_EXECUTABLE_SUFFIX}
+)
+
+set(PROTOBUF_BUILD_BYPRODUCTS_
+    ${PROTOBUF_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE_}
+    ${UTF8_LIBRARIES}
+)
+
+if(CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES)
+    list(APPEND PROTOBUF_BUILD_BYPRODUCTS_
+        ${PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF_}
+        ${PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF_DEBUG_}
+    )
+elseif(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE MATCHES "^(Debug|NoOptWithASM|Coverage|ASAN)$")
+    list(APPEND PROTOBUF_BUILD_BYPRODUCTS_
+        ${PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF_DEBUG_}
+    )
+else()
+    list(APPEND PROTOBUF_BUILD_BYPRODUCTS_
+        ${PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF_}
+    )
+endif()
+
+set(CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH_OPTION_ "")
+if(CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH)
+    string(REPLACE ";" "|" CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH_EXTERNAL_ "${CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH}")
+    set(CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH_OPTION_
+        "-DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH=${CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH_EXTERNAL_}"
+    )
 endif()
 
 ExternalProject_Add(protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}
@@ -69,35 +149,43 @@ ExternalProject_Add(protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}
     PATCH_COMMAND ${PROTOBUF_PATCH_COMMAND}
     SOURCE_DIR ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/thirdparty/protobuf/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}
     BINARY_DIR ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}
+    LIST_SEPARATOR |
     CMAKE_ARGS
         -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER}
         -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=${CMAKE_C_COMPILER}
+        -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD=${PROTOBUF_CXX_STANDARD_}
+        -DCMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED=ON
+        -DCMAKE_CXX_EXTENSIONS=OFF
+        ${CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH_OPTION_}
         -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=OFF
         -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=$<$<CONFIG:Debug>:Debug>$<$<CONFIG:Release>:Release>$<$<CONFIG:RelWithDebInfo>:RelWithDebInfo>$<$<CONFIG:MinSizeRel>:MinSizeRel>$<$<CONFIG:NoOptWithASM>:Debug>$<$<CONFIG:Coverage>:Debug>$<$<CONFIG:O2WithASM>:RelWithDebInfo>$<$<CONFIG:O3WithASM>:RelWithDebInfo>$<$<CONFIG:ASAN>:Debug>
         -DCMAKE_CXX_VISIBILITY_PRESET=hidden
         -DCMAKE_VISIBILITY_INLINES_HIDDEN=1
         -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}
+        "-DCMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR:PATH=${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}"
         -Dprotobuf_BUILD_TESTS=OFF
-        ${ABSL_OPTION}
-        ${USE_ZLIB}
+        ${ABSL_DIR_OPTION_}
+        ${GNSSSDR_ABSL_PROVIDER_}
+        ${USE_ZLIB_}
     BUILD_COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND}
         "--build" "${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}"
         "--config" $<$<CONFIG:Debug>:Debug>$<$<CONFIG:Release>:Release>$<$<CONFIG:RelWithDebInfo>:RelWithDebInfo>$<$<CONFIG:MinSizeRel>:MinSizeRel>$<$<CONFIG:NoOptWithASM>:Debug>$<$<CONFIG:Coverage>:Debug>$<$<CONFIG:O2WithASM>:RelWithDebInfo>$<$<CONFIG:O3WithASM>:RelWithDebInfo>$<$<CONFIG:ASAN>:Debug>
         "--target" install
-    BUILD_BYPRODUCTS ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_PREFIXES}protobuf$<$<CONFIG:Debug>:d>${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX}
-        ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/bin/protoc
-        ${ABSL_LIBRARIES}
-        ${UTF8_LIBRARIES}
+    BUILD_BYPRODUCTS ${PROTOBUF_BUILD_BYPRODUCTS_}
     INSTALL_COMMAND ""
 )
 
 file(MAKE_DIRECTORY ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/include)
 file(MAKE_DIRECTORY ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR})
 
-if(${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} MATCHES "Darwin")
-    find_library(CoreFoundation CoreFoundation)
-else()
-    set(CoreFoundation "")
+set(PROTOBUF_EXTRA_LIBRARIES_ "")
+if("${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME}" MATCHES "Darwin")
+    find_library(GNSSSDR_COREFOUNDATION_LIBRARY CoreFoundation)
+    if(GNSSSDR_COREFOUNDATION_LIBRARY)
+        list(APPEND PROTOBUF_EXTRA_LIBRARIES_
+            ${GNSSSDR_COREFOUNDATION_LIBRARY}
+        )
+    endif()
 endif()
 
 set(PROTOBUF_ABSL_USED_TARGETS
@@ -137,6 +225,19 @@ set(PROTOBUF_ABSL_USED_TARGETS
     absl::variant
 )
 
+if(GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION VERSION_LESS "30.0")
+    foreach(_gnsssdr_absl_target ${PROTOBUF_ABSL_USED_TARGETS})
+        if(NOT TARGET ${_gnsssdr_absl_target})
+            message(FATAL_ERROR
+                "Required Abseil target ${_gnsssdr_absl_target} was not found. "
+                "Install a compatible abseil-cpp package before building bundled "
+                "Protocol Buffers ${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}."
+            )
+        endif()
+    endforeach()
+    unset(_gnsssdr_absl_target)
+endif()
+
 if(NOT TARGET protobuf::libprotobuf)
     add_library(protobuf::libprotobuf STATIC IMPORTED)
     add_dependencies(protobuf::libprotobuf protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION})
@@ -148,24 +249,44 @@ if(NOT TARGET protobuf::libprotobuf)
         MAP_IMPORTED_CONFIG_O2WITHASM RelWithDebInfo
         MAP_IMPORTED_CONFIG_O3WITHASM RelWithDebInfo
         MAP_IMPORTED_CONFIG_ASAN Debug
-        IMPORTED_LOCATION_NONE ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_PREFIXES}protobuf${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX}
-        IMPORTED_LOCATION_DEBUG ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_PREFIXES}protobufd${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX}
-        IMPORTED_LOCATION_RELEASE ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_PREFIXES}protobuf${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX}
-        IMPORTED_LOCATION_RELWITHDEBINFO ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_PREFIXES}protobuf${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX}
-        IMPORTED_LOCATION_MINSIZEREL ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_PREFIXES}protobuf${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX}
+        IMPORTED_LOCATION ${PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF_}
+        IMPORTED_LOCATION_NONE ${PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF_}
+        IMPORTED_LOCATION_DEBUG ${PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF_DEBUG_}
+        IMPORTED_LOCATION_RELEASE ${PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF_}
+        IMPORTED_LOCATION_RELWITHDEBINFO ${PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF_}
+        IMPORTED_LOCATION_MINSIZEREL ${PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF_}
         INTERFACE_INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/include
-        INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${ZLIB_LIBRARIES_};${CoreFoundation};${UTF8_LIBRARIES};${PROTOBUF_ABSL_USED_TARGETS};${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_PREFIXES}protobuf$<$<CONFIG:Debug>:d>${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX}"
+        INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES "${ZLIB_LIBRARIES_};${PROTOBUF_EXTRA_LIBRARIES_};${UTF8_LIBRARIES};${PROTOBUF_ABSL_USED_TARGETS}"
     )
 endif()
 
 if(NOT TARGET protobuf::protoc)
     add_executable(protobuf::protoc IMPORTED)
     add_dependencies(protobuf::protoc protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION})
-    unset(Protobuf_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE)
-    set(PROTOBUF_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE "${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/bin/protoc")
+    set(Protobuf_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE "${PROTOBUF_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE_}")
+    set(PROTOBUF_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE "${PROTOBUF_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE_}")
     set_target_properties(protobuf::protoc PROPERTIES
         IMPORTED_LINK_INTERFACE_LANGUAGES "CXX"
-        IMPORTED_LOCATION ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/bin/protoc
-        INTERFACE_LINK_LIBRARIES ${GNSSSDR_BINARY_DIR}/protobuf-${GNSSSDR_PROTOCOLBUFFERS_LOCAL_VERSION}/${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/${CMAKE_FIND_LIBRARY_PREFIXES}protoc$<$<CONFIG:Debug>:d>${CMAKE_STATIC_LIBRARY_SUFFIX}
+        MAP_IMPORTED_CONFIG_NOOPTWITHASM Debug
+        MAP_IMPORTED_CONFIG_COVERAGE Debug
+        MAP_IMPORTED_CONFIG_O2WITHASM RelWithDebInfo
+        MAP_IMPORTED_CONFIG_O3WITHASM RelWithDebInfo
+        MAP_IMPORTED_CONFIG_ASAN Debug
+        IMPORTED_LOCATION ${PROTOBUF_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE_}
     )
 endif()
+
+unset(GNSSSDR_ABSL_PROVIDER_)
+unset(USE_ZLIB_)
+unset(ZLIB_LIBRARIES_)
+unset(ABSL_DIR_OPTION_)
+unset(PROTOBUF_EXTRA_LIBRARIES_)
+unset(PROTOBUF_CXX_STANDARD_)
+unset(PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF_)
+unset(PROTOBUF_LIBPROTOBUF_DEBUG_)
+unset(PROTOBUF_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE_)
+unset(PROTOBUF_BUILD_BYPRODUCTS_)
+unset(CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH_OPTION_)
+if(DEFINED CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH_EXTERNAL_)
+    unset(CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH_EXTERNAL_)
+endif()
\ No newline at end of file