How to Avoid Vodafone CGNAT in Brazil

Vodafone Brazil (now called Arqia) uses Carrier-Grade NAT (aka CGNAT) to help conserve IPv4 addresses. While this method is efficient, it can disrupt users who need to host personal servers or maintain stable remote connections, as it places many customers under a single public IP. 

However, there is a straightforward way to overcome these limitations: using a port forwarding VPN. This tool not only allows you to sidestep CGNAT issues but also gives you better control over your online connections. Not sure how this works? Find out more in our guide below!

How to Avoid Vodafone Brazil CGNAT with PureVPN

If you want to get around Vodafone Brazil’s CGNAT, consider using PureVPN’s Port Forwarding for seamless direct connections from any location. Here is how to set it up: 

1. Choose a PureVPN plan and add Port Forwarding during checkout. 
2. Download and install the PureVPN app on the device of your choice. 
3. Sign in to your Member Area and select the Port Forwarding option. 
4. Enter the ports you wish to open for incoming connections. 
5. Connect to a server that supports port forwarding, and voila!

What Issues Does Vodafone Brazil CGNAT Cause? 

Vodafone Brazi’s use of CGNAT can lead to:

Challenges with Hosting Servers

If you are trying to set up a home server for tasks like media sharing or running a personal website, Vodafone Brazil’s CGNAT can be a significant hurdle. Since the same IP address is assigned to multiple users, it effectively blocks incoming connections from outside your local network, rendering your server unreachable from the internet.

Obstacles in Online Gaming

For gamers, CGNAT can be a real game spoiler. It complicates the necessary peer-to-peer connections that online multiplayer games rely on. This results in increased latency, difficulties in connecting to game servers, and a generally frustrating gaming experience due to unstable connections.

Barriers to Remote Access

If you are traveling and need to access your home network remotely, CGNAT poses significant hurdles. This technology complicates or limits direct access to your network, making it tough to manage smart home devices or personal files from anywhere.

Difficulties with VoIP Services

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services depend on having certain ports open, which CGNAT does not consistently support. This leads to dropped calls, poor call quality, and overall unreliable communication, which can affect both personal and professional interactions considerably.

How to Check if Vodafone Brazil Uses CGNAT 

Does your ISP You can use the following methods to figure out if your Vodafone Brazil connection is under CGNAT:

Method 1: Check the Router’s WAN IP Address

1. Open a web browser and enter your router’s IP address into the address bar.
2. Enter your username and password to access the dashboard.
3. Navigate to the status screen on the dashboard.
4. Find the section labeled as ‘WAN IP’ or a similar term, which might vary based on the router model.
5. Examine the IP address assigned to the router’s WAN interface.
6. If this IP address falls within the range of 100.64.0.1 to 100.127.255.254, your connection is likely behind CGNAT. This IP range is designated for CGNAT usage.

Related Read: How to Check if Your ISP Performs CGNAT

Method 2: Compare WAN IP and Public IP Address

1. Follow the steps from Method 1 to find and note down the WAN IP address from your router’s dashboard.
2. Open a new tab in your web browser
3. Search for “what is my IP address” and press Enter.
4. Remember the public IP address displayed by the search results.
5. If the WAN IP and the public IP address are different, it indicates that your ISP is using CGNAT.
6. If they match, your connection likely has a direct public IP address, meaning it is not behind CGNAT.

Host a Server Using Dedicated IP with Port Forwarding

Hosting a server becomes a seamless experience with PureVPN’s Dedicated IP + Port Forwarding add-on. This combo ensures you get a static IP address only for your use, while port forwarding allows specific external traffic to reach your server directly—this makes it ideal for running a gaming server or managing a personal website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Vodafone Brazil use CGNAT?

Yes, Vodafone Brazil uses CGNAT to manage the limited availability of IPv4 addresses. However, this can lead to issues with hosting servers or multiplayer gaming.

Can I use a port forwarding VPN to avoid Vodafone Brazil CGNAT?

Absolutely, a port forwarding VPN like PureVPN can help you sidestep the limitations of CGNAT, allowing for direct and uninterrupted connections.