The geopolitical landscape has shifted overnight. With the escalation of conflict in the Middle East and its immediate impact on global oil and gas prices, the ‘supply chain uncertainty’ of the past has evolved into a full-blown energy and logistics crisis. For ISPs, the stakes have doubled. Not only are shipping lanes for proprietary hardware increasingly volatile, but the rising …
Transitioning from a basic DHCP setup on an OLT to a dedicated BNG is a classic “growing pains” milestone for an ISP. While OLTs are fantastic at moving light, they aren’t built to manage a complex subscriber base. Here is why growing ISPs should consider making the jump.
While enabling IPv6 is an important first step, deploying it effectively requires understanding of best practices for IPv6 address assignment—including both global IPv6 address allocation and IPv6 prefix delegation (PD).
The term “supply chain” has become synonymous with uncertainty. For ISPs, this volatility is a direct threat to stability and growth. Here are some ways to achieve independence from these risks.
In 2026, as BEAD projects transition into the deployment and operational phases, service providers face unique challenges regarding cost, scalability, and federal compliance. This FAQ outlines how netElastic’s virtual routing solutions address these specific needs.
ISP’s deserve better. “Open” networking is the buzz, but is often not reality. Escape vendor lock-in with truly open solutions from netElastic.
Broadband networks are rapidly evolving, and with an ever-growing number of connected devices, the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 is imperative. Dual Stack IPv6 is essential in facilitating this transition, offering a useful solution for networks to support both IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously. This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Dual Stack IPv6. So, let’s get right to …
Discover what Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT) is, how IPv4 address exhaustion impacts broadband service providers, and why software-based CGNAT delivers a cost-effective, highly scalable solution.
In today’s digital age, access to the internet has become an essential need for individuals and communities worldwide. However, millions of people still need this vital connection. vBNG and CGNAT services are architected to help expand internet access. Access to the internet isn’t evenly distributed globally, leading to a digital divide between those with internet connectivity and those without. This …
Discover what a virtual router (vRouter) is, how it compares to traditional hardware routers, and why software-based routing on x86 servers offers superior scalability and cost savings for network edge deployment.
Network automation, a crucial goal for most ISPs, is key to navigating the complexity of broadband networks and achieving optimal network performance and efficiency. While the buzz around artificial intelligence’s role in network automation is undeniable, it’s essential to focus on the tangible benefits network automation can bring to your operations today. Large Tier One ISPs (with large budgets) are …
This is a guest blog by Adam Schaeffer, the CEO of Core Transit, a netElastic customer. Core Transit has leveraged netElastic solutions to create new wholesale service offerings to the ISP community. ISP Challenges In today’s world of rapid network expansion, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) must respond quickly to bandwidth growth, new access technologies, and growing competition as they move …
Many market research reports have recently highlighted the growth in virtual broadband network gateways (vBNGs). The factors driving vBNG growth include greater scalability, increased flexibility, and lower costs than hardware-based BNGs. Once a broadband service provider decides to purchase a vBNG, where should they buy it? You can choose from many vBNG vendors, including traditional router manufacturers, low-cost hardware router …
In our fast-paced digital world, staying connected is a requirement for most people. And when it comes to reliable and high-speed internet connectivity, broadband remote access servers (B-RAS) play a crucial role. But what is a broadband remote access server, and how does it work? In this ultimate guide to broadband remote access servers, we’ll delve into everything you need …
In today’s world of rapidly increasing bandwidth demand, broadband service providers must continually increase capacity. As a result, having flexible and scalable network infrastructure has become critical. In this environment, broadband providers are turning to software-based virtual Broadband Network Gateways (vBNGs) to enhance network infrastructure. Why are vBNGs gaining traction? Let’s discuss some of the advantages of virtual BNGs versus …
IPv6 will someday fully replace IPv4. Everyone knows that. What’s unknown is when. The first publication of the IPv6 protocol was in 1995. Most people thought IPv6 would be the primary internet protocol by now. Yet, according to Google, IPv6 adoption among Google users is currently at 40%. Therefore, IPv4 is still the dominant internet connection protocol. Transitioning to IPv6 Why is …
Interested in finding a better way to add network capacity to keep up with bandwidth demand? But not wanting to incur major costs? Based on our conversations with internet service providers worldwide, you’re not alone. More and more ISPs are trying to solve this problem. As a result, it’s not surprising that the number of ISPs purchasing virtual Broadband Network …
Broadband access is becoming more important as time goes on. For example, OpenVault’s Q2 2024 Broadband Insights Report highlights a 16.5% year-over-year increase in the percentage of broadband subscribers consuming 1 Terabyte or more per month. Moreover, upstream data consumption has also surged, growing by 15.9% over the previous year. These figures underscore the mounting demand for broadband network capacity …
Marc Andreessen famously said, “Software is eating the world.” Time has proven Andreessen to be prophetic. We can now say, “Software is eating the network.” The Road to Software-Based Networks Network functions virtualization (NFV) is driving the transition to software-based networks. NFV virtualizes network services, such as routers and firewalls traditionally run on proprietary hardware. Proprietary “closed systems,” unfortunately, are …
As cities, municipalities, and communities strive to leverage BEAD funding to expand broadband access to their constituents, they’re turning to technology to help bridge the digital divide. While a significant portion of expenditures tend to go towards the physical plant, such as fiber, copper, or RF, the data center or central office is important in providing effective solutions for these …
Countries worldwide are allocating millions, and in some cases, billions of dollars for broadband expansion. And the vast majority of this money will be spent deploying fiber. Deploying fiber may be the biggest expense, but it’s certainly not the only expense. Signing up new subscribers requires new IPv4 addresses, and they’re not cheap. Today, these prices range from $40 to …
Internet access has now become essential to everyday living. The Internet offers services, resources, and information that people need and depend on. With the increasing demand for fast internet access, virtual Broadband Network Gateways (vBNGs) have become a valuable solution to meet those needs. The Importance of Reliable Virtual Broadband Network Gateways Reliability is a crucial aspect of all network … Read More
Carrier Grade NAT (CGNAT) has been a blessing for broadband service providers who need more IPv4 addresses. Rather than purchasing or leasing expensive IPv4 addresses, CGNAT helps providers share existing IPv4 addresses across multiple customers. This sharing helps conserve limited IPv4 addresses but also creates challenges for law enforcement agencies (LEA). Before CGNAT, one IP address was typically associated with …
In addition to greater scalability and flexibility, vBNGs are providing benefits in many unexpected ways...
Broadband service providers are embracing CGNAT as a way to conserve IPv4 addresses. But who should you buy CGNAT from?
Network disaggregation is gaining traction and Broadband Network Gateways (BNGs) are next. Learn the reasons why.
Nielsen’s Law of Internet Bandwidth states that a high-end user’s connection speed grows by 50% per year. In looking at data from 1983 to 2023, it’s remarkable how closely the actual data fits the 50% annualized growth stated by Nielsen’s law. Even with minor yearly variations, Nielsen’s Law of Internet Bandwidth has held true throughout a 40-year period. This doesn’t necessarily …
Network Address Translation (NAT) and Carrier-Grade Network Address Translation (CGNAT) are common words in the networking world. But what are they, and what are their key differences? Read this blog to find out.
Broadband service providers are focused on signing up new subscribers. However, obtaining and supporting new customers can be expensive. That’s where software-based broadband network gateways can help.
Broadband providers are supporting a growing number of subscribers. And more subscribers mean more bandwidth consumption. This is fueling the growth of software-based vBNGs, which provide greater scalability and flexibility than hardware-based BNGs. That being said, how do you get visibility into your vBNGs?
Governments are fueling the biggest wave of broadband investment ever. And this isn’t a one-time massive expenditure, since most of the money is still to be allocated over the rest of the decade. In this environment, the state of Maine has successfully obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in federal money and other sources for broadband expansion. However, a new …
Virtual routers enable broadband service providers to replace expensive, proprietary hardware-centric routers with routing software that runs on commodity, off-the-shelf hardware.
Broadband service providers are increasingly requiring network equipment to be NEBS compliant. Why? One reason is that subscribers are now depending on internet access for their professional and personal lives. And they’re relying on broadband providers to deliver this critical service. As a result, reliability has become paramount. Bell Labs developed the Network Equipment Building Systems (or NEBS) requirements to …
High-speed internet access has become a necessity for much of our day-to-day lives. We shop, learn, receive health care, and communicate online. As a result, connecting individuals to affordable and high-speed internet has become an imperative for communities and governments alike. To make “Internet for All” a reality, there are multiple broadband access technologies. However, service providers have traditionally used …
Global internet bandwidth rose by 28% in 2022, according to TeleGeography’s Global Internet Geography research. Total international bandwidth now stands at 997 Tbps, which represents a 4-year CAGR of 29%. What does this mean for broadband service providers? It means broadband providers need to stay ahead of the demand for more bandwidth. It also means the ability to scale has …
The number of “super power users” who consume more than 2 terabytes (TBs) of data per month increased 31% year-over-year in Q1 2022, according to a new OpenVault Broadband Insights report. In addition, the number of “power users” consuming 1 TB or more rose 18%. And the growth isn’t limited to only super power users and power users. For example, …
As remote work increases the demand for fast, reliable internet in apartments and condos, property owners are turning to virtual BNGs. Learn how software-based BNGs deliver up to 770 Gbps throughput while cutting hardware costs by up to 70%.
Many people are hesitant to make changes, since it’s much easier to stay with the status quo. There is a comfort level in the familiar. For example, I typically go out for lunch on the weekends. And I typically go to the same restaurants over and over again. Why? I’m familiar with those establishments. I know them and they know …
The cost of buying or leasing IPv4 addresses continues to increase. Why? It’s a simple matter of supply and demand. The supply of IPv4 addresses is capped since no new IPv4 addresses are being created. So, supply stays the same, regardless of demand. Demand for IPv4 addresses is anything but stagnant, as broadband providers continually sign up new subscribers and …
Virtual Broadband Network Gateways (vBNGs) are increasingly being adopted by broadband providers. Why? This blog discusses three key reasons why, with additional input from a few netElastic vBNG customers.
As most people know, internet traffic exploded during the global pandemic. The internet is now a critical part of day-to-day living and the digitization of our lives has crystallized the importance of internet access. As a testament to this, countries worldwide are focused on providing internet access to all citizens and allocating large sums of money to make it happen. …
Governments are spending unprecedented amounts of money to expand broadband access. And broadband providers will be investing those monies to grow their networks and reach more subscribers. In this environment, who cares about lowering the costs of building out (and then maintaining) fiber or fixed wireless access networks? Broadband providers care. No matter the size of the funding, successful businesses …
Governments around the world are spending millions (and in some cases billions) of dollars to provide fast internet access for all citizens. As a result, broadband providers are expanding and/or building new networks to prepare for more subscribers. The majority of government funding for broadband will go to building network infrastructure, such as deploying Fiber to the Home (FTTH) or …
A multi-core CPU is, in a way, a network; a network on a chip. Just like homes and businesses may be ‘hosts’ or nodes on a Service Providers network, or PCs and phones on an enterprise or home network, the hosts on netElastic’s network are CPU cores. netElastic’s virtualized network includes a small army of cores, with each core performing …
Governments worldwide are investing billions in broadband infrastructure, creating a major growth opportunity for ISPs. Learn how replacing proprietary hardware with software-based vBNG and CGNAT solutions can boost network ROI by up to 70%.
The rapid growth of the internet has resulted in IPv4 addresses becoming a scare resource, which is increasing the costs to buy or lease IPv4 addresses. One approach to deal with the finite number of IPv4 addresses is to share the remaining IPv4 addresses among larger numbers of customers. How does this work? Carrier Grade NAT Carrier Grade Network Address …
netElastic recently conducted a survey to learn what broadband providers really want from broadband network gateways (BNGs). Broadband providers representing twelve different countries participated in the survey, including ISPs, large carriers, WISPs, and electric utilities. And both large and small providers were included. Job titles held by the survey respondents included Chief Technology Officer (CTO), network engineer, and network architect, …
More and more broadband providers are deploying virtual Broadband Network Gateways (vBNGs). As a result, more people are asking questions about vBNGs. Below are answers to five frequent questions. 1. What is a vBNG and How is It Used? Broadband network gateways (BNGs), also known as broadband remote access servers (BRAS), are an essential network component since they’re the access …
Network scalability has never been more critical, as people depend on the Internet for more aspects of their personal and business lives. This creates an opportunity and a challenge for broadband providers since traditional network infrastructure wasn’t designed to scale quickly or reliably to meet increasing demand. What should a broadband provider do? Let’s Explore the Options Many small broadband …
Internet connectivity has reached a new level of importance throughout the world and the global pandemic has only accelerated that. The focus on internet access should continue as the “work-from-home” model is being embraced by many companies and individuals continue to spend more time online for their shopping, entertainment, and educational needs. These factors are also causing broadband providers to …
Surging bandwidth demand requires maximum agility at the network edge. Explore how software-defined virtual BNGs eliminate proprietary hardware lock-in, enable independent control and data plane scaling, and lower operational costs for regional ISPs.
Subscriber demand for bandwidth has been growing rapidly, and demand is expected to grow even faster in the future due to increasing numbers of connected devices, video streaming, and gaming. Of course, the global pandemic has taken bandwidth demand to a new level, with employees working from home and students learning from home. Increasing demand for bandwidth creates major opportunities …
With the number of internet connected devices increasing rapidly throughout the world, the scarcity of IPv4 addresses is becoming more problematic. The IPv4 shortage is particularly acute for international broadband providers, which have less access to IPv4 addresses. Although the 4.3 billion addresses supported by IPv4 seemed like a lot in 1983 (when IPv4 was created), it is woefully inadequate …
Tackling the lack of adequate broadband infrastructure in America, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ReConnect program has spent almost $1.3 billion to facilitate broadband deployment in areas of rural America that don’t currently have sufficient access to broadband. America is not alone in trying to provide broadband access to more of its citizens. Australia’s national broadband network (nbn) recently announced …
Surging traffic and hybrid work have made predictable network demands a thing of the past. Discover how network virtualization decouples software from hardware, giving broadband providers the agility, scalability, and cost efficiency needed for modern growth.
Selecting the right virtual BNG vendor is critical as broadband providers move to disaggregated software networks. Discover 5 key criteria to evaluate, including scalability, COTS hardware openness, performance validation, and total cost of ownership.
The topic of network agility has been gaining momentum in the past few years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting work-from-home surge has put the importance of network agility into overdrive. Network Agility: A Definition The term “network agility” means different things to different people. In looking for a common denominator, network agility can be defined as the network’s …
Connecting to the internet is a vital and daily activity for most people worldwide, as it provides access to millions of terabytes of information. To make this possible, broadband providers connect individuals to the internet. How does this work?
