Imagine you live in a huge apartment building, but instead of each unit having its own street address, the whole building shares one main address. When mail arrives, the front desk sorts it and makes sure it gets to the right unit inside.
That’s kind of how CG-NAT (Carrier-Grade Network Address Translation) works for the internet!
The internet needs something called an IP address to know where to send information (like websites, videos, or emails). But because there aren’t enough IP addresses for everyone, CG-NAT lets multiple customers share a single public IP – just like an apartment building sharing one main address.
On your MATE internet connection, CG-NAT works behind the scenes, and most users won’t even notice it’s there. But if you’re using work VPNs, online gaming, or remote security cameras, you might need to tweak some settings.
Find out more on our dedicated IPv6 and CG-NAT guide, which includes common troubleshooting steps to keep your MATE internet plan running smoothly.
