Steam and PS5 not working on Mobile Broadband

[NateWalker]

The only internet we're able to get in our flat is EE Mobile Broadband and we're pretty much stuck with it for now. I game a fair bit but the internet won't connect to my PS5 nor am I able to connect to Steam on my PC. I know this has something to do with the NAT type and that it's basically impossible to fix, I was just wondering if anyone knows a work around involving a VPN or any other method?

Incredibly frustrating and not something that seems to be advertised from EE themselves, I think they need to make it clear that Mobile Broadband does not support gaming if that is indeed the case.

[XRaySpeX]

You are probably finding yourself up against a limitation of EE's mobile network. The EE mobile network uses Carrier Grade NAT (CGNAT) resulting in a double NAT, which games consoles often object to, which means you don't get your own public IP address but share it with other users. So you can't be uniquely id'ed on the Net & therefore your LAN cannot be addressed from outside for unsolicited accesses. This is unlike fixed BB. 

If this occurs there is nowt you can do to avoid it.

IMHO the EE mobile network is not really suitable for gaming.

[Valodioh]

EE's mobile network employs **Carrier Grade NAT (CGNAT)**, which can pose challenges for online gaming. Here's an explanation of its workings and its impact on gaming:

 What is Carrier Grade NAT (CGNAT)?

- Double NAT: CGNAT occurs when multiple users share a single public IP address, leading to a "double NAT" scenario where your devices are behind two layers of NAT (Network Address Translation).

- Limited Connectivity: Lacking a unique public IP address, your gaming console or PC may struggle to establish direct connections with game servers or other players, which is essential for many online games that depend on peer-to-peer communication.

Implications for Online Gaming

1. Unique Identification: The absence of a unique public IP means your device cannot be uniquely identified on the internet, complicating direct connections to your console by game servers or joining of your game by other players.

2. Incoming Connections: CGNAT hinders unsolicited incoming connections, often necessary for certain multiplayer games, potentially preventing you from effectively receiving game invites or requests from other players.

3. Performance Issues: Under CGNAT, many online games might not perform optimally or could be entirely unworkable, leading to lag, connection drops, or matchmaking difficulties.

Comparison to Fixed Broadband

- In contrast to fixed broadband connections that usually assign a public IP address directly to your device, mobile networks like EE's utilize a shared IP model, making fixed broadband a better option for gaming due to its stable and direct connections.

 Conclusion

Online gaming issues on EE's mobile network are likely a result of CGNAT's limitations. There is no current solution to secure a unique public IP address in this setup. For dedicated gamers, considering alternatives such as fixed broadband may be beneficial..