Strict NAT type

[joshwiseman]

I'm a mobile broadband customer and use my connection for gaming. It seems like recently O2 changed their network to use a strict NAT type which is severely limiting my ability to game. The main reason I went with O2 to begin with because of the open NAT type they offered and I'm not sure why this has changed recently.

[MI5]

Guide: How to find help & contact O2 

[madasaf1sh]

@joshwiseman 

How do you mean a Strict NAT Type??, as o2 have been using CGNAT for a good few years now, and have never had a fully open Network Topology, in as much as everyone gets a Public IP ..

[joshwiseman]

When setting up an internet connection on a games console, the console will rate the connection's "NAT type". These ratings are console specific, but will eg be A-C, where A is "open and can connect to online games" and C is "strict and connect to online games" I use both a PS5 and a Nintendo Switch, which were both completely fine with O2 for over a year, and are both now unable to connect to any online games and are both reporting that my connection is now a "strict NAT type".

I have tried talking to customer support on the phone, but they didn't have a clue what I was going on about!

[madasaf1sh]

@joshwiseman 

Not surprised 1st line support wont have a clue, as this is really a 3rd line Network Infrastructure question...

How are you connecting to the XBOX and Switch is it via Hotspot or a 4G/5G router, as it might be worth checking that uPNP is set to on. 

Can you also set the XBOX / Switch to use uPNP as well?? 

As o2 use CGNAT, that can cause issues as well with Games Servers, as you dont get a unique external IP, and some game servers dont like it at all

Other than that your only option is VPN, or a niche mobile sim provider as o2 wont and cant relax the network configuration.

[Joe1987]

Been getting sent in circles with helpline. They don't even know what nat is. Ive been told it's an issue with a transmission tower, with my sim, with the phone, with the playstation. I spent hundreds of pounds in the last 2 months trying to source and fix the problem. So called experts cluelessly reading from an AI prompter that doesn't have the information I require. Ps5 was working fine on mobile hotspot until early October. No announcement, no warning, no record. Just a massive insult to my integrity and promises of resolution with no action or change.