Case Studies > A10 CGN Enables Reliable Carrier Grade NAT (CGN) Services

A10 CGN Enables Reliable Carrier Grade NAT (CGN) Services

Customer Company Size

Large Corporate

Region

Asia

Country

Japan

Product

A10 CGN
ACOS® platform
Symmetric Scalable Multi-Core Processing (SSMP)

Tech Stack

Carrier Grade NAT (CGN)
IPv4 to IPv6 transition
High Availability (HA) configurations

Implementation Scale

Enterprise-wide Deployment

Impact Metrics

Cost Savings
Customer Satisfaction
Productivity Improvements

Technology Category

Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software
Networks & Connectivity - Gateways
Networks & Connectivity - Routers & Bridges

Applicable Industries

Telecommunications

Services

System Integration
Software Design & Engineering Services
Training

About The Customer

Wire and Wireless Co., Ltd. (Wi2) is a public wireless LAN service provider covering one of the largest areas in Japan. With tens of thousands of wireless LAN spots deployed across the country, its 'Wi2 300' service offers high-quality connectivity without complicated processes, supporting almost any wireless LAN device such as smartphones, laptops, and gaming devices. Wi2 also provides services for international tourists who may find it challenging to locate Wi-Fi spots, ensuring a seamless and accessible wireless experience.

The Challenge

Wi2 faced the challenge of global IPv4 address exhaustion while experiencing a rapidly increasing number of users. The company used to assign public IPv4 addresses to client devices, but with the depletion of available IPv4 addresses and the expected surge in connecting devices, effective utilization and preservation of IPv4 addresses became critical. The need for a solution that could expand the capacity of each IPv4 address and maintain high application transparency and stability was imperative.

The Solution

To address the challenge of IPv4 address exhaustion, Wi2 implemented Carrier Grade NAT (CGN) to expand the available capacity of each IPv4 address. CGN's NAT configuration allows the use of private IPv4 addresses for connecting devices, increasing the efficiency of device capacity per public IPv4 address. Wi2 evaluated products that offered high transparency and stability, ultimately selecting A10 Networks' CGN gateways for their cost-efficiency and quick implementation. A10 Networks, along with its sales partner, quickly implemented the required functionalities, enabling Wi2 to start providing Wi-Fi services with A10 CGN within a month of the decision.

Operational Impact

A10 CGN operates with redundant high availability (HA) configurations within Wi2’s system, ensuring continuous service without disruptions.
The 'Max users per IP' function allows flexible control over the maximum number of users per IP, optimizing resource utilization.
A10 CGN’s logging function continuously monitors service utilization, providing insights into network performance and user activity.
Six months after implementation, A10 CGN continues to operate stably, with no reported issues regarding application transparency from users.
Wi2 plans to extend A10 CGN deployments to support the expansion of its services, leveraging the high-quality support and quick response from A10 Networks.

Quantitative Benefit