By: MarkJ - 23 July, 2009 (1:01 AM) - Score: 4184 - Fixed Line Broadband

Network operator Entanet UK has warned that many broadband ISPs could be missing a "competitive opportunity" by adopting a risky "wait and see" approach to IPv6 adoption. The group, which supplies several ISPs and is itself an early adopter of IPv6, said that some providers could perhaps be deemed "technically negligent" and risk "compromising network performance" by delaying.

For those not in the know, an IPv4 address is assigned to your computer each time you go online (e.g. 123.23.56.98). It is a unique online identifier made up of four number groupings and allows you to communicate with other computers around the world; not unlike a phone number for voice calls.

Sadly IPv4 addresses are predicted to run out by 2012, though some research suggests it could happen as early as next year. Meanwhile its replacement, IPv6, is already somewhat aged and has been waiting in the wings for years. IPv6 is not only longer but also more secure by design. They are 128bits long, written in hexadecimal and separated by colons; for example:

2ffe:1800:3525:3:200:f8ff:fe21:67cf

Watson notes that many ISPs are using the "lack of customer demand for IPv6" as an excuse for putting off the investment required to bring their networks up to date, which is despite most new hardware already supporting the technology. Like it or not though that cost is coming and may hit sooner than some providers expect.


Most consumers and even some businesses don't appear to understand the term 'broadband', so they're unlikely to suddenly begin demanding IPv6 from ISPs, but then it's not as if they should. Do we have to demand that special bolts be installed on the rail network to keep it running? Of course not, because it's common sense to do it.

Never the less we agree with Entanet's BLOG that IPv6, whether you like the idea or not, is an essential upgrade and any ISP that doesn't at least have a plan for tackling it could be in for trouble. Customers could be forced to share IP addresses with other users and performance problems might ensue, which is just one of several potential problems.

Related News:
29 April, 2009 - ARIN Warns ISPs - IPv4 Internet Addresses to be Depleted by 2010
16 May, 2008 - OECD Warns of Internet Address (IPv4) Shortage
27 May, 2008 - EC Sets IPv6 Adoption Target of 25% by 2010
20 August, 2008 - ISPs will Fail to Meet IPv6 Adoption Targets
25 September, 2008 - Vint Cerf Warning - The Internet is Still Running out of IPs
04 December, 2008 - IPv6 Uptake Increases by 300 Percent