Giant Deploy Native IPv6 Internet Addresses Across UK Broadband Network

Liverpool-based UK ISP Giant has informed ISPreview that they’ve finally managed to deploy native Internet Protocol v6 (IPv6) addressing across their broadband network, which is sure to be welcomed by their residential customers that currently use IPv4 addresses via Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT or IP address sharing).

Just for some context. IP addresses help to connect your software and devices with others around the online world – like an ID number for your internet connection. The issue these days is that the existing IPv4 address space has long been exhausted, which makes it difficult to add new connections without compromising by sharing IPs between many users (CGNAT, MAP-T etc.) or spending big to buy additional v4 addresses on the market.

The long-term solution to the above challenge is adoption of IPv6 addresses, which are not directly compatible with IPv4 and so require a fair bit of complex work and investment in order to make both work properly side-by-side (e.g. Dual Stack or other methods). IPv6 has been around for many years now and a lot of ISPs have deployed it, although there are still some big names that have not (e.g. Virgin Media and TalkTalk); perhaps partly because they continue to have spare v4 addresses.

The good news this week is that Giant has just become the latest broadband provider to deploy IPv6 across their network. “When a website or online service supports IPv6, compatible devices on a Giant connection can communicate using IPv6 directly. When something still requires IPv4, IPv4 remains available through our CGNAT infrastructure. For most customers, there’s nothing to configure and nothing they need to understand. Their devices simply use the appropriate protocol,” said the provider.

The deployment of IPv6 alongside IPv4 CGNAT is generally an improvement that can help to remove some of the quirky connectivity problems that sometimes creep in with certain services due to IP address sharing (e.g. self-hosting, CCTV cameras, security systems etc.). But it’s worth noting that customers can also take a Static IPv4 address from Giant at extra cost if they so wish, which avoids such issues (usually £4/month).

Giant Statement

Giant already delivers broadband across multiple UK fibre networks, with speeds reaching up to 8 Gbps in supported areas. But building a modern ISP isn’t only about increasing the number printed on a speed test.

The systems behind the connection matter too. Deploying IPv6 alongside our existing IPv4 CGNAT infrastructure is another step in modernising the Giant network and reducing our long-term dependence on increasingly scarce IPv4 address space.