EC urges speedy adoption of IPv6

27-05-2008

by Bryan Collins

The European Commission wants 25 percent of industries, public authorities and households to be using the latest internet protocol, IP version 6, by 2010.

The Commission has set the deadline because the increasing demand for internet-based services means that there may not be enough addresses to support the current rate of growth.

"This is very much a case of a stitch in time saves nine", said Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media. "In the short term, businesses and public authorities might be tempted to try to squeeze their needs into the strait jacket of the old system, but this would mean Europe is badly placed to take advantage of the latest internet technology, and could face a crisis when the old system runs out of addresses."

The demand for IP addresses is expected to be fuelled by increasing use of internet devices like smart tags (in shops and factories), intelligent heating and lighting systems and in-car navigation systems.

"IPv6 provides more addresses in cyberspace than there are grains of sand on the world's beaches. If Europeans are to use the latest internet devices...then we already face a thousand-fold increase in demand for IP addresses," said Reding.

The current protocol, IPv4, has been in use since 1984 and provides 4.3 billion addresses. Of these, only about 700 million or 16 percent are available for new connections. IPv6 offers an almost unlimited amount of IP addresses and supports applications using devices that are too numerous or costly for IPv4. However, Ireland has some work to do if it's to meet the EU Commission's target of 2010.

"The problem with IPV6 is broadband operators...until they start actively using IPv6, it can't take off. It is a chicken and egg type scenario. At the moment, we know what the egg is. Until people start laying those eggs, no chicken is ever going to hatch. In Ireland...most of the broadband providers aren't actually pushing IPV6," said Michele Neylon, one of the owners of hosting provider, Blacknight, speaking with ENN.

Japan already has a public IPv6 backbone and China plans to implement networks that are both IPv4 and IPv6 compatible before the Beijing Olympics. The US government also wants IPv6 as a requirement for public procurement. A similar policy here could aid take-up of IPv6, according to Neylon.

"There is no reason why it can't be done. It is a kind of thing where you have to get people pushing and advocating it. Whether 2010 is reasonable or not? It is hard to say. If the government agencies are to start pushing it as a requirement for their networks then I suppose it will create a demand," he told ENN.

The Commission wants the most important websites of Europe to take the lead and is seeking commitments from at least 100 top European website operators, such as broadcasters and online news services, before the end of this year.

According to Neylon, if IPv6 is not taken up, consumers could ultimately pay the price.

"One of the things that people are seeing as a possibility in the not too distant future is the markets where there are people selling IP addresses. You have your custom licence plate for you car, well you [will] have your custom IP addresses as well. That will end up costing end-users even more."