[ UPDATE 15/10/2021 12:00 ] TM has issued a statement to assure that Unifi users with IP-based CCTV and hosting will not be affected. More details here.
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If you’re an Unifi Broadband customer that relies on public IP, some of your services might be disrupted very soon. The broadband provider has announced a system migration where users on public IPv4 IPs will be shifted to private IP.
TM is implementing Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT) for Unifi 30Mbps, 50Mbps, and 100Mbps customers. According to TM, services that may be affected include non-cloud-based CCTVs, server hosting, and online games where content is hosted by the customer. If you have a file-sharing service, FTP or NAS that uses a public IP, it will be affected as well.
For the large majority of users, your internet experience should not be affected when your service is switched to a private IP. According to the FAQ, the migration exercise will be implemented in stages from mid-September 2021 to January 2022 between 2am to 4am. Affected customers may experience a short downtime of 2-5 minutes.
TM said that it is implementing CGNAT for security purposes so that intruders will not be able to identify public IPv4 assigned to customers. The move is also seen as a way to address IPv4 address exhaustion.
While having a public IP makes it easier to allow anyone to connect to your devices remotely, there are potential security risks. Cybercriminals may infiltrate your network and devices if it isn’t protected properly. That’s one of the reasons why VPN is usually recommended to hide your public IP.
This migration will only affect Unifi subscribers with a dynamic IP. If you’re an Unifi business user that needs a fixed IP address, TM is charging RM200/month for 1 IP or RM300/month for 5 fixed IPs.
The FAQ on the CGNAT implementation is also shared on the Unifi Community Forum.
Thanks to @hiw200 for the tip!
