UK Broadband ISP Octaplus Confirms IPv6 Readiness

Broadband and Pay TV provider Octaplus (Octaplus Supercharged), which sells services to consumers over various full fibre (FTTP) networks (e.g. MS3, CityFibre and FullFibre Limited), has announced that their network is now finally ready for the IPv6 internet addressing standard and customer migrations will begin next week.

Just to recap. Internet protocol (IP) addresses exist to help connect you and your devices with others around the online world – like an ID number for your connection. Unfortunately, the IPv4 address space could only handle 4 billion addresses and that supply has been exhausted (except for the costly resale of existing address pools), which means that in the future ISPs will need to use the new IPv6 standard in order to continue adding new connections without compromise (i.e. IP address sharing / CGNAT is one compromise that can cause problems).

However, the longer form IPv6 addresses are not directly compatible with older IPv4 addresses, which means that ISPs have to put in a fair bit of time and effort to ensure that the two standards are able to work side-by-side. Most of this happens seamlessly in the background, which means that regular users are unlikely to notice any difference.

Sadly, there are still quite a few internet providers that have yet to adopt IPv6 addressing, but today saw Octaplus become the latest to upgrade. “Starting August 08, we will begin the process of moving our esteemed customers to IPv6, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of internet connectivity,” said a spokesperson for the internet provider.

Octaplus Statement

IPv6 boasts an astonishingly vast address space, accommodating approximately 340 undecillion unique IP addresses. This abundance ensures that every connected device, from smartphones to gaming consoles and beyond, can have its dedicated address without the limitations imposed by IPv4’s scarcity.

Enhanced Security: IPv6 incorporates built-in security features, such as IPsec (Internet Protocol Security), which encrypts data and ensures a more secure exchange of information over the internet. This added layer of protection is crucial in safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring a safer online gaming experience.

Future-Proofing the Internet: The continued growth of the internet and the proliferation of connected devices necessitate a scalable and sustainable networking solution. IPv6, designed with a forward-looking approach, ensures that the internet can keep up with the ever-expanding demands of our digital world.

By embracing IPv6, Octaplus is taking a proactive step in fostering a seamless and improved online experience for our valued customers. This transition will empower gamers to enjoy multiplayer gaming without the limitations of NAT-related issues, resulting in enhanced gameplay, reduced lag, and an overall more satisfying gaming experience.

At Octaplus, we believe in staying ahead of the curve and delivering the latest innovations to our customers. With IPv6, we are embracing the future of connectivity and paving the way for a more efficient, secure, and boundless internet.

Admittedly, it’s a bit rich for any internet provider adopting IPv6 in 2023 (the standard has been around since the mid-1990s) to be talking about such work as helping them to stay “ahead of the curve“, but then it could be worse. We’ve been waiting years for TalkTalk, Vodafone and Virgin Media (VMO2) to do the same on their fixed broadband networks, but at least most of those have plenty of spare IPv4s to keep them going.