1. Overall context

1.1 Motivation

The shortage of global IPv4 addresses has become a reality. The vast majority of operators and IP service providers are facing this problem, or will be in the near future. However, these major Internet players need to be able to guarantee their customers that they will always be able to access any content available on the Internet, even if these customers can no longer obtain a global IPv4 address for their own use.

• Meeting fundamental technical needs

  • The answer to the problem of IPv4 service continuity today lies in the installation of IPv4 address sharing mechanisms in the network. These address translation mechanisms (known as CGN, Carrier Grade NAT – or "carrier grade"...