Methods and apparatuses for a network element having DHCP proxy functionality are described. According to one embodiment, an exemplary method includes receiving, at a network element, a request for an IP address from a subscriber, in response to the request, on behalf of the subscriber, communicating with one or more IP address providers over a network to process the request, and responding to the subscriber with respect to the request as if the network element is an IP address provider, on behalf of the one or more IP address providers.