The Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) sits at the heart of every broadband network, managing subscribers, policies, and traffic flows. But as demand for speed and scalability grows, traditional approaches to BNG are being reimagined.
In this post, we break down different BNG access models; from centralized to cloud-native, and what they mean for the future of broadband.
1. Centralized BNG
Traditionally, BNGs were deployed in a centralized model; one big box handling thousands of subscribers at the network edge.
“In the centralized model, all subscriber sessions are terminated on a single BNG located at the edge of the network. It’s straightforward to deploy and easy to manage, which is why many service providers started here. The downside? As subscriber demand scales, this model can become a bottleneck and create a single point of failure. It’s simple, but not always sustainable.”
Pros:
- Easy to deploy and manage
Cons:
- Scalability challenges
- Single point of failure
Best suited for smaller networks or legacy deployments.
2. Disaggregated BNG (CUPS)
To overcome centralization limits, BNGs can adopt CUPS (Control and User Plane Separation).
“Control functions like subscriber management run centrally, while user traffic forwarding is distributed closer to the edge. The result: better scalability, flexibility, and resilience. Service providers can scale each plane independently and bring traffic handling nearer to subscribers.”
Benefits:
- Scales control and user planes independently
- Reduces latency and congestion
- Increases resilience
→ Ideal for mid-sized ISPs aiming for improved performance without full cloud adoption.
3. Virtualized / Cloud-native BNG
BNG has now evolved into cloud-native deployments, running as VNFs or CNFs instead of fixed hardware.
“This makes it easier to deploy on standard servers, orchestrate using Kubernetes, and scale on demand. Operators gain agility, faster time-to-market, and a platform better aligned with automation and modern network architectures.”
Advantages:
- Elastic scaling
- Faster feature deployment
- Automation-ready
→ The go-to model for operators looking to future-proof their networks.
Future Trends in BNG Access Models
- Cloud-Native Architectures: Embracing cloud principles for scalability.
- 5G Integration: BNG’s evolving role in mobile convergence.
- AI & Automation: Intelligent traffic management and operational efficiency.
BNG architectures have come a long way; from centralized appliances, to disaggregated setups, and now to cloud-native deployments. Each evolution aims to deliver more scalability, flexibility, and efficiency, while keeping the subscriber experience seamless.
The journey of BNG mirrors the broader transformation in networking: from hardware-centric → software-driven, from rigid → agile.