How to Avoid Vodafone Italia CGNAT in Italy

Vodafone Italia’s use of Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT) might be an efficient way to stretch the dwindling supply of IPv4 addresses. However, it can create significant hurdles for users who want to host personal servers or enjoy seamless remote access.

CGNAT basically funnels multiple customers through a single public IP address, which complicates tasks that require direct connections between devices. Fortunately, you can avoid Vodafone Italia’s CGNAT limitations using a port forwarding VPN. 

Not sure how? Find out more below!

What Issues Does Vodafone Italia CGNAT Cause?

Vodafone Italia’s use of CGNAT can lead to multiple issues, such as:

Server Hosting Complications

Users can face disruptions in setting up home-based servers for various uses like file sharing or gaming. Since CGNAT prevents external connections to your server, they will remain inaccessible from outside your network.

Online Gaming Hurdles

CGNAT can severely impact online multiplayer gaming by preventing the establishment of stable peer-to-peer connections. This can lead to increased lag, difficulty participating in online matches, and reduced overall gaming performance.

Remote Access Roadblocks

If you want to access your home network remotely, CGNAT creates a barrier. It complicates direct access, which can make it close to impossible for you to access personal files or manage smart home devices from afar.

VoIP Setup Problems

Many VoIP services require certain ports to be open in order to function properly, which CGNAT does not guarantee. This can lead to degraded call quality and connectivity issues, affecting communication reliability.

How to Check if Vodafone Italia Uses CGNAT

Here are two simple ways to find out if your Vodafone Italia 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.

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.

How to Avoid Vodafone Italia CGNAT with PureVPN

To beat Vodafone Italia’s CGNAT, use PureVPN’s Port Forwarding add-on, which allows external devices to connect directly to a specific port on your device. Here is how you can set it up:

1. Choose a PureVPN subscription and add Port Forwarding during checkout.
   
2. Download and install our app on your device (we offer apps for all major platforms).

3. Sign into your Member Area and locate the Port Forwarding section.

4. Click it and enter the ports you want to open for incoming traffic.

5. Connect to a port forwarding-supported server, and you are all set!

Host a Server Using Dedicated IP with Port Forwarding

If you are facing issues hosting a server due to Vodafone Italia’s CGNAT limitations, try our Dedicated IP and Port Forwarding add-on. It provides you with a unique IP address to help you steer clear of the complications associated with a shared IP. Moreover, it gives you total control over your connections, ensuring seamless gaming, hassle-free server hosting, and more!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Vodafone Italia use CGNAT?

Yes, Vodafone Italia uses CGNAT to allow multiple subscribers to share the same public IP address. However, this can cause problems if you want to host your own server or play online games. 

Can I avoid Vodafone Italia CGNAT using a port forwarding VPN?

Absolutely! A port forwarding VPN like PureVPN enables direct incoming connections, making it easier to perform tasks usually hindered by CGNAT, such as remote desktop access.