SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Oct. 27, 2026 - PRLog -- netElastic, a provider of software solutions for broadband ISPs, today announced that Nextlink Internet, a rural broadband provider headquartered in Hudson Oaks, Texas, has selected netElastic's virtual Broadband Network Gateway (vBNG), Carrier-Grade Network Address Translation (CGNAT) and netVision management platform as part of its broader network modernization. Serving approximately 100,000 subscribers across 11 states with a mix of fixed wireless and fiber, Nextlink is using a software-based approach to support network operations, expand capacity, and move away from legacy platforms and proprietary hardware.
Supporting Nextlink's Hybrid Network
netElastic provides BNG and CGNAT functions within Nextlink's broader network architecture. Current deployments include high-availability systems in Texas that carry traffic from Tarana fixed wireless sites, with further migration planned. Tarana is part of Nextlink's fixed wireless access environment. netElastic's available APIs support subscriber onboarding and operational workflows without custom middleware for those integrations.
Network Growth and Operational Requirements
The deployment supports Nextlink's broader growth across fixed wireless and fiber services. The network must meet day-to-day operational needs as well as applicable performance, reporting, and compliance obligations associated with publicly funded deployments. Programs such as the Connect America Fund (CAF), Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), and Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) form part of that operating context.
Flexible Capacity and Procurement
By running netElastic software on standard Dell x86 servers, Nextlink can expand capacity with greater hardware flexibility and manage total cost of ownership. The approach also gives the company more procurement options when traditional networking equipment is constrained. As Nextlink evaluates a more distributed edge architecture, software-based gateway functions offer flexibility to place those capabilities closer to subscribers.