How to Port Forward on BT Broadband and bypass CGNAT

If you use BT broadband, you might have faced issues with port forwarding. Customers struggle to open up ports because BT broadband performs CGNAT to conserve the IPv4 pool. Port Forwarding, however, is essential as it helps to set up communication with external servers. 

But, if a router sits behind CGNAT, you won’t be able to connect to any such external device. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process to forward ports on BT broadband and bypass CGNAT. 

What is CGNAT?

CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT) or large-scale NAT is an address translation mechanism that tackles the issue of IPv4 exhaustion by reducing the number of allocated IP addresses. With CGNAT, multiple private IPs are translated into a single shared public address. However, a shared IP address can complicate things when you try to forward ports on BT Broadband or any router for that matter. 

Why does BT Broadband perform CGNAT?

CGNAT is mainly employed to reduce the cost spent for attaining more usable IPv4 addresses. With fewer IP addresses remaining, it is difficult for internet service providers to get new IPs for customers. By performing CGNAT, ISPs can assign the same IPv4 address to multiple users on the network and reduce the number of addresses to be acquired.

But CGNAT can also create issues when you are port forwarding routers because of a shared IP address. Your IP can get blacklisted by the ISP if you are opening ports behind CGNAT. But, there’s a quick solution to this CGNAT issue. 

How Does CGNAT Impact BT Broadband Users?

Here are some issues that users might encounter due to BT Broadband’s use of CGNAT:

• Port Forwarding Difficulties: CGNAT limits the ability to set up port forwarding properly, which is crucial for applications like home servers and online games that require specific ports to be open. 

• Hosting Service Issues: The use of a shared public IP under CGNAT complicates the hosting of services like game servers or web servers. Users might experience difficulties in managing and accessing their services effectively.

• Peer-to-Peer Problems: CGNAT can interfere with the necessary direct connections that peer-to-peer applications rely on. This can lead to reduced performance and reliability, adversely affecting user experience.

• IP Blacklisting Risks: When multiple users share a single IP address, the actions of one user can lead to the IP being blacklisted, negatively affecting all users under that IP and limiting their access to certain online services and platforms.

How Do I Port Forward on BT Broadband and Bypass CGNAT?

If you are using BT Broadband and need to set up port forwarding without worrying about CGNAT limitations, PureVPN’s Port Forwarding add-on offers a straightforward solution. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Sign up for a PureVPN account, choose the Port Forwarding add-on during checkout, and complete the payment.

2. Download and install the PureVPN app for your device and log in using your username and password.

3. Access the Member Area, open Subscriptions, and click Configure next to the Port Forwarding option.

4. Select Enable specific ports, enter the ports you want to forward, and save your settings.
   
5. Connect to a server that supports port forwarding within the PureVPN app to get around CGNAT barriers!

Host a server with a dedicated IP and port forwarding add-on

You need a dedicated IP and a port forwarding add-on for specific reasons only. If you wish to host a game server, get your IP whitelisted, or want your friends to connect to your at-home devices, get a dedicated IP and the port forwarding combo deal. A dedicated IP allows you to create servers and allow external IP addresses to connect to your server without any IP mapping issues.

Why pick PureVPN for your port forwarding needs

If you are looking for an effective solution for all your port forwarding needs, consider PureVPN. With PureVPN, you can open up ports behind various routers and internet services including BT Broadband. The port forwarding add-on resolves your connectivity issues and improves your gaming experience.

Here’s what you can get with a PureVPN subscription:

• Access to more than 6,000 servers in 78+ locations
• Excellent features such as split tunneling, IP masking, simultaneous logins
• PureVPN also enforces a no-log policy
• Protection against malicious threats and DDoS attacks