BT’s Chief Network Architect, Neil McRae, has told the UK IPv6 Council that their roll-out of the Internet Protocol v6 (IPv6) addressing standard was completed for “all BT Broadband lines” in October 2016 (except IPstream connections.. so not quite “all“), provided you have a compatible router.
Internet Protocol (IP) addresses are used to identify your connection online and most are still IPv4 based, but these have been depleted and so networks around the world are slowly adopting the IPv6 addressing system. Most ISPs are achieving this via a dual-stack network so that both IPv4 and IPv6 can work side-by-side, which is necessary because it will be many years before IPv4 can be completely switched off (too much software and hardware is still IPv4-only).
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At the last update in August 2016 we were informed by BT that they aimed to officially enable the new standard on their network this Autumn, although they also said that it would be early 2017 before all of their customers could use it (here).
Today’s update confirms that IPv6 is now live, although at present only those with BT’s latest SmartHub router (or a third-party one that supports IPv6) can take advantage of the new system. Existing BT subscribers with the older HomeHub 4 and 5 routers will follow from early 2017.
The above information reflects BT’s residential subscribers, while their BT Business Broadband and Business Infinity (FTTC) customers will have to wait until Q1 2017. Naturally business customers can also expect to receive a static IPv6 address (/56).
The onus is now on TalkTalk and Virgin Media to play catch-up.
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UPDATE 10:40am
The following is a statement from BT, which adds some extra confirmation to the above article if ever it were needed.
A BT Spokesperson told ISPreview.co.uk:
“We can confirm that IPv6 has been enabled on the majority of our network, apart from our legacy network serving a small proportion of customers. This is in line with our aim to include IPv6 for our customers in good time. Customers with our new Smart Hub have IPv6 capability immediately and we expect to have updated all customers with the Home Hub 5 and Home Hub 4 early in 2017.
Customers do not need to do anything and all customers can currently experience everything the internet can offer with IPv4.”
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