What is PPPoE (Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet)?
PPPoE is the connection method most Indian broadband providers use to deliver internet to homes: the customer's router "dials in" to the ISP's server with a username and password, creating a private tunnel over the cable or fibre line. The ISP's PPPoE server authenticates each login, assigns the IP address, applies the speed plan, and counts the data used.
For ISP operators, PPPoE is the accountability layer: every subscriber is a distinct account that can be suspended for non-payment, upgraded to a faster plan, or traced for complaints — all centrally. This is why a local cable operator with 500 fibre customers runs a MikroTik PPPoE server tied to a billing panel: on the 1st of the month, unpaid accounts stop connecting automatically, and payment instantly restores them.