How to Get a Static IP Address from Your ISP (and What to Do When You Can’t)

Tom Daly

November 2, 2025

Learn how to request a static IP from your ISP, why IPv4 scarcity and CGNAT make it difficult, and how overlay networks like Big Network’s Static IP Anywhere deliver consistent IPs over any connection.

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Getting a static IP address used to be as simple as calling your internet provider and paying a small fee. Today’s reality is much different. IPv4 addresses are scarce; most residential and wireless services use carrier‑grade NAT (CGNAT), and providers offer static IPs only on premium, business‑grade circuits. Even popular satellite backhaul options like Starlink now sit behind CGNAT and deliver only dynamic IPv4 addresses. For network operators and virtual network operators (VNOs) who build connectivity without owning physical infrastructure by leasing capacity and layering services, those limitations translate into broken VPN tunnels, unreachable firewalls, and costly downtime.

In this guide, you’ll learn how ISPs allocate IP addresses, why obtaining a static IP from a provider has become complex and expensive, and what alternative approaches exist to guarantee predictable addressing across any underlay connection.

As the Big Network VNO guide notes, virtualization is reshaping connectivity; businesses demand always‑on, flexible services, and VNOs meet that demand by leasing capacity from carriers and layering their own services and billing. This guide explains how static IP strategies support that model.

Key Takeaways

Static IPs are manually assigned and do not change, whereas dynamic IPs are handed out automatically via DHCP and can change whenever a device reconnects[2][3].
ISPs prefer dynamic addressing because IPv4 addresses are scarce; CGNAT allows thousands of subscribers to share a single public IPv4 address[4].
Obtaining a static IP from an ISP usually requires a business‑grade circuit (fiber, T1, etc.) and incurs monthly fees; consumer broadband and LTE/5G services typically cannot supply true public static IPs.
Typical static IP costs in 2025 range from $15–$40 per month per address for major U.S. carriers[5]; these costs are rising because of IPv4 exhaustion.
Overlay networking lets you deliver globally routable static IPs over any ISP connection—LTE, fiber, satellite, or Starlink—without depending on the provider to assign one.
Starlink is popular yet still dynamic. Starlink’s low‑earth‑orbit network has become a widely used backhaul option, with more than 2.3 million subscribers in over 70 countries[6][7]. However, the service only delivers dynamic IPv4 addresses behind CGNAT[8], and even its Business and Maritime “public IP” plans supply a publicly routable address that can change and does not support inbound connectivity[9][10].

1. Understand How IP Assignments Work

Dynamic vs. static IPs

For VNOs, understanding the difference between dynamic and static IPs is foundational. Because VNOs don’t own physical networks, they rely on leasing capacity from multiple carriers and layering services on top[1]. Keeping track of changing IP assignments across those leased circuits can be a significant operational headache.

ISPs use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to assign a temporary dynamic IP address to each subscriber automatically. The address can change when the modem or router reboots or reconnects. Dynamic IPs are common because they simplify provisioning and conserve address pools[3].

A static IP address is manually configured and remains fixed across reboots and sessions[2]. Businesses and hosting providers use static IPs to reliably connect to servers, VPN endpoints, and remote devices. Static addresses also provide more accurate geolocation and reduce connection lapses[11]. For a VNO, whose differentiation often comes from service innovation rather than physical network ownership[12], static IPs enable consistent service delivery across leased connections and simplify end‑customer integration.

Why ISPs avoid static IPv4 allocations

Until the 2010s, ISPs could assign public IPv4 addresses liberally. That changed when regional internet registries ran out of IPv4 space. The RIPE NCC (covering Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia) announced that its last /22 IPv4 blocks were exhausted in November 2019[13], noting that new local internet registries must join a waiting list to receive a single /24 block[14]. North American registry ARIN made a similar announcement in 2015. Since new addresses are scarce, ISPs conserve them by:

Using CGNAT. Carrier‑grade NAT allows thousands of customers to share a single public IP address, assigning private addresses internally and translating them to the shared public address. This will enable ISPs to serve more customers with fewer IPv4 addresses[4].
Rotating dynamic IPs. Dynamically assigning addresses from a shared pool means customers don’t “own” a public IP and thus cannot receive inbound connections.
Charging premiums for static IPs. Business plans with static IPs help offset the cost of acquiring IPv4 addresses on the transfer market and reduce the number of static blocks an ISP needs to manage.

Because of these pressures, network operators must treat static IPs as a scarce resource. Even if your ISP advertises a static IP option, it may not be a valid public address (some carriers offer “sticky IPs” that persist within their CGNAT system but cannot accept inbound connections).

For VNOs, the scarcity of public IPv4 addresses is doubly challenging. A VNO’s business model depends on spinning up new services quickly and scaling across geographies[1]. When static IPs are tied to premium circuits or single providers, launching a new remote site becomes more expensive and slower. This undermines the agility that defines virtual network operations[12].

2. The Reality of Getting a Static IP from Your ISP

Step 1: Check if your service tier supports static IPs

Start by reviewing the terms of your broadband, fiber, or wireless plan. Consumer‑grade DSL, cable, and LTE/5G services rarely include static IPs. Static addresses are generally only available on business‑grade plans. Contact your account representative or the provider’s business sales desk and ask:

Does the provider offer a proper static (public) IPv4 address on this circuit? Some carriers assign a public IP but still use CGNAT for inbound traffic (no port forwarding).
Is the static IP portable if you upgrade or move to another plan? Many static IP assignments are tied to a specific gateway and cannot be transferred.
What is the monthly cost and setup fee? According to a 2025 IP addressing survey, Verizon’s static IPv4 addresses cost $20–$40 per month, and AT&T charges $15–$25 per month for a single address[5].

Step 2: Request the static IP allocation

If your plan qualifies, you must submit a service request. Most carriers require proof that you need a static IP, such as running a server, terminating a VPN, or performing remote management. Once approved, the ISP will provision the address and provide instructions for configuring your router.

Be prepared to wait—some carriers cannot allocate a static IP immediately because they must reclaim addresses from other customers. The RIPE waiting list shows that even registered networks may wait months to receive a /24 block[14].

Step 3: Configure your equipment

After receiving the IP assignment, log in to your router or firewall and manually configure the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS addresses supplied by the ISP. The WhatIsMyIPAddress guide notes that you must request a static IP from your ISP; once received, configuring the IP on your Mac or Windows device requires manually entering the settings and enabling manual IP assignment [15]. The configuration process varies by platform:

On a router: Navigate to the WAN interface settings, select Static IP mode, and enter the address, subnet mask, and gateway. You may need to reboot for changes to take effect.
On a firewall: Add a new outside interface with the static IP and update NAT and access control policies accordingly.

Hidden costs and limitations

Even after paying for a static IP, network operators face challenges:

High cost and rigid contracts. Business circuits with static IPs often require long‑term contracts, installation fees, and equipment rental. You may pay hundreds of dollars per month for a fiber or leased‑line service when all you need is a consistent IP for VPNs.
Lack of failover. Static IPs are tied to a single circuit. If the connection goes down, your IP disappears. You cannot easily replicate the IP on a secondary connection.
Portability constraints. Moving your service or switching carriers requires renumbering all devices. This adds operational overhead.
No addresses on mobile and satellite. LTE/5G providers use CGNAT to serve millions of devices[4]. Starlink offers only dynamic IPv4 addresses under CGNAT and does not support inbound connections. Without a workaround, you cannot run services or terminate VPNs over these links.

These limitations hit VNOs especially hard. A virtual operator might deploy remote kiosks or IoT gateways over diverse underlays—DSL, fiber, LTE, and satellite. If each underlay uses dynamic addressing or CGNAT, scaling services while guaranteeing reachability becomes nearly impossible. The need to unify addressing across a fragmented underlay is a key pain point for VNOs.

3. Beyond the ISP: Owning Your Address Space

For large organizations, an alternative to renting static IPs from ISPs is to obtain your own IP block from a regional internet registry and announce it via Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). This approach involves:

Becoming a local internet registry (LIR) and requesting a /24 IPv4 prefix from a registry (e.g., ARIN or RIPE). As noted above, you may end up on a waiting list because IPv4 allocations are exhausted [14].
Running BGP on edge routers to advertise your prefix through one or more upstream providers.
Handling reverse DNS, route maintenance, and potential DDoS attacks.

Owning your IP space provides true portability—you keep the same IPs across providers—but it requires networking expertise, RIR membership fees, and router platforms capable of BGP.

For smaller operators or those needing only a handful of addresses, leasing IPv4 space from a broker or using an overlay network is more practical.

4. Overlay Networking: Static IPs Over Any Connection

An overlay network creates a virtual layer on top of any ISP connection. Instead of asking the provider for a static IP, you build a secure tunnel to a cloud‑based aggregation point that assigns you a globally routable static IP. Because the IP exists in the overlay, it persists even if the underlay (ISP connection) changes or fails.

Big Network’s Static IP Anywhere implements this approach:

Globally routable IPs. The service assigns each site or device a public IPv4 address that never changes, regardless of the underlying ISP or access technology.
Multipath failover. The overlay can bond multiple underlay links (fiber, LTE, satellite) and perform sub‑second failover. When one link fails, traffic continues over the remaining links without dropping sessions.
Inbound connectivity. Unlike CGNAT, the overlay allows port forwarding and inbound connections for VPNs, servers, and management interfaces.

Static IP overlays also provide security. Traffic traverses encrypted tunnels, and the overlay can centrally enforce firewall policies, access controls, and segmentation. For VNOs, overlay networking aligns with their business model: they can lease capacity from multiple carriers and layer on consistent IP services[1], delivering the appearance of owning infrastructure without the capital expenditure.

5. Big Network POV: A Smarter Way to Get Static IPs

Big Network believes that operators shouldn’t have to rely on scarce IPv4 allocations or expensive business circuits just to maintain reliable connectivity. Our Edge Pro hardware and Static IP Anywhere service let you assign static IPs to any remote site or device, over any ISP. The overlay abstracts away CGNAT and dynamic addressing, giving you the benefits of static IPs—persistent VPN endpoints, fixed firewall rules, remote management—without the limitations of traditional ISP provisioning.

Why this matters to network operators and VNOs

For network operators and VNOs managing multiple sites, remote cameras, kiosks, or industrial control systems, the stakes are high:

Uptime: When a dynamic IP changes, VPN tunnels and data feeds drop. Troubleshooting remote units without a reachable IP can take hours.
Security: Constant renumbering weakens firewall policies and opens holes. A static IP overlay centralizes control and reduces the attack surface.
Cost control: Avoid paying for multiple business circuits just to get static IPs. Use inexpensive broadband or cellular links and overlay a static IP.
Flexibility: Deploy new sites quickly with any available ISP while maintaining consistent addressing and policies.

Virtual operators benefit even more. Because they build networks faster, cheaper, and more reliably [16], static IP overlays give them the agility to launch new services without waiting for provider allocations or paying for business‑grade circuits. With Big Network’s platform, VNOs can offer static IP capability as part of their service bundle, strengthening their value proposition[17].

Big Network’s approach addresses these pain points by delivering static IP functionality as a service rather than a product bound to a specific link.

Summary

Static IP addresses remain vital for business networks, but obtaining one from your ISP has become difficult. IPv4 exhaustion has forced carriers to deploy CGNAT and restrict static allocations. Even if a static IP is available, it comes with high costs, rigid contracts, and single‑circuit dependency. Network operators and virtual network operators need a more flexible solution.

Overlay networking and services like Big Network’s Static IP Anywhere project globally routable static IPs over any underlay connection, whether fiber, LTE, satellite, or Starlink. They enable persistent VPNs, reliable remote management, and simplified operations without the cost and complexity of owning your own address space or negotiating with multiple ISPs.

If you depend on dynamic or CGNAT‑based connections today, consider overlaying static IPs to unbreak your connectivity and build resilient, multi‑access networks.

Call to Action

Ready to regain control of your IP addressing? Talk to our team to see how Edge Pro and Static IP Anywhere can simplify your network operations—whether you’re a traditional network operator or a VNO building services on leased capacity.

FAQ: Static IPs from ISPs

Q1: Is it possible to get a static IP on a consumer broadband or mobile plan?

In most cases, no. Consumer plans typically provide dynamic IPs behind CGNAT. You’ll need to upgrade to a business‑grade service or use an overlay solution.

Q2: How much does a static IP cost from a major U.S. ISP?

Prices vary. According to a 2025 survey, Verizon charges roughly $20–$40 per month for a static IP, while AT&T charges $15–$25[5]. Some providers bundle one static IP with business internet plans at no extra cost.

Q3: Why can’t Starlink or LTE providers give me a static IP?

Satellite and mobile carriers rely heavily on CGNAT to conserve IPv4 addresses. They assign each customer a private IP and translate outbound traffic through a shared public IP[4]. Inbound connections aren’t possible without port forwarding or an overlay network.

Q4: What is the difference between buying my own IP block and using an overlay?

Owning your own /24 address space and running BGP gives you complete control but requires membership in a regional internet registry, expensive router platforms, and expertise. Overlays provide similar benefits without the complexity: they assign static IPs at the edge and route traffic through cloud gateways, using any available underlay.

[1] [12] Virtual Network Operators (VNOs): The Definitive Guide | Big Network

https://www.bignetwork.com/blog/virtual-network-operators-definitive-guide

[2] [3] [11] Static vs. Dynamic IP Address: Similarities and Differences | Fortinet

https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/static-vs-dynamic-ip

[4] Understanding Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT) – CleanBrowsing Help

https://cleanbrowsing.org/help/docs/understanding-carrier-grade-nat-cgnat/

[5] How much does an IP address cost in 2025?

https://fleetproxy.io/blog/ip-address-cost-in-2025

[6] [7] Satellite Internet Expansion: How Fast Is Starlink Growing? (Latest Market Stats) | PatentPC

https://patentpc.com/blog/satellite-internet-expansion-how-fast-is-starlink-growing-latest-market-stats

[8] [9] [10] Starlink Static IP: How To Get It & Viable Alternatives (2025)

https://starlinkinsider.com/starlink-static-ip/