Table of Contents
What Is CGNAT? #
CGNAT (Carrier-Grade Network Address Translation) is a technology that allows multiple customers to share a single public IPv4 address. It’s an efficient way to manage the limited number of IPv4 addresses available worldwide, ensuring seamless connectivity for everyone.
Why Is CGNAT Necessary? #
The IPv4 Shortage #
- IPv4 was designed in the 1980s, with about 4.3 billion unique addresses. Back then, this seemed like plenty, but the explosion of internet-connected devices quickly outpaced the supply.
- By 2011, the pool of available IPv4 addresses was completely depleted. This led to widespread adoption of CGNAT as a solution to share IPv4 addresses among multiple users.
How Does IPv6 Solve This? #
The Long-Term Solution #
- IPv6 is the next-generation internet protocol, designed to replace IPv4. With a mind-boggling number of addresses (340 undecillion), IPv6 ensures there will never be another shortage.
- FibreTel has fully embraced IPv6, and most internet traffic on our network already uses this protocol.
Direct Connections #
- Unlike IPv4, IPv6 eliminates the need for NAT (Network Address Translation) at both the CGNAT and router level. This means devices can connect directly to the internet without the extra steps, resulting in faster and more efficient communication.
- With IPv6, every device gets its own unique address, so there’s no need for port forwarding or address sharing.
How Does This Affect Me? #
- IPv4 Is Legacy: IPv4 is now considered a legacy protocol and will eventually be phased out. FibreTel uses CGNAT to efficiently manage IPv4 traffic until this happens.
- No Noticeable Difference: For customers, the transition is seamless. Most of your internet traffic already flows over IPv6, providing faster and more direct connections.
- Future-Proof Technology: IPv6 ensures your connection is ready for the growing number of smart devices and modern applications.
Why Doesn’t FibreTel Assign Static IPv4 Addresses? #
- The limited availability and high cost of IPv4 addresses make assigning static addresses impractical. Instead, FibreTel focuses on transitioning to IPv6, which provides unlimited, unique addresses for all your devices.
