Industry pointing fingers as IPv6 adoption crawls forward
- 22 January, 2013 14:38
- Comments
The Internet Society of Australia predicted “piecemeal improvements” to IPv6 adoption in 2013.
IPv6 provides about 340 undecillion IP addresses, compared to 4 billion addresses under IPv4. Exhaustion of IPv4 addresses has necessitated adoption of IPv6 addresses. When it came to IPv6 adoption, Australia was behind Azerbaijan and many Asian countries going into World IPv6 Day this past June.
However, ISOC-AU president Narelle Clark told Computerworld Australia of a “bizarre chicken and egg situation” where none of the pieces needed to push IPv6 along are moving.
“We are in the ridiculous position that the parties needed for trouble free IPv6 deployment are still looking at each other pointing the finger,” Clark said.
Equipment providers say there’s not a market, network providers say there’s no market and no content, and software developers say they can’t get a network service so they aren’t developing for IPv6, she said.
“Smart ones are continuing to deliver IPv6 in their products and they are the ones that will really have the jump on the market in the future.”
“Unfortunately for Australian business it means we are left behind further in the technology marketplace when we have had a traditionally strong position as early adopters.”
Adding to the problem are rising costs for IPv4 addresses, which have begun to be sold in a trading market, Clark said. “What has happened is that with scarcity, IPv4 addresses have taken on a financial value.”
IPv4 addresses are currently trading for about $10 per address on the open market, and there are medium-sized blocks up for sale, she said.
“If people don't start deploying IPv6 there are going to start to see costs come in as a result of IPv4 trading which has started in earnest,” she said.
Not all of the IPv4 blocks on the market are good, Clark said. “Some are blacklisted having been used heavily by spammers and the like and may be a lot of trouble.”
The Australian government had been moving slowly toward IPv6, but Clark said government departments “are improving their situation, with a lot of work going on internally that they should get some credit for.”
Follow Adam Bender on Twitter: @WatchAdam
Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU, or take part in the Computerworld conversation on LinkedIn: Computerworld Australia
Recommended
Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.
- Bookmark this page
- Share this article
- Got more on this story? Email CIO
- Follow CIO on twitter
-
Larry Page wants to see your medical records
-
Dual-Persona Smartphones Not a BYOD Panacea
-
After two-year hiatus, EFF accepts bitcoin donations again
-
CIOs struggle to deliver timely mobile business apps: survey
-
Spiceworks' free management software gets integrated MDM
-
Cloud Computing for Midsize Businesses: Delivering Innovation and Efficiency
It’s time for midsize companies to start thinking differently about infrastructure. This white paper provides a brief overview of cloud computing, explains how midsize companies can benefit, and describes the steps they can take to take advantage of what it has to offer. Read now. -
The Foundation for Cloud Management
For businesses looking to provide real-time business solutions to employees and customers alike, you need to have a comprehensive network management strategy. The network is the foundation of all successful cloud services; it must be robust to meet traffic, efficiency, and performance demands. Download today the four steps to get your network operations cloud-ready. -
Maximising productivity without sacrificing security
Advances in mobility and client computing technology combined with the ubiquity of the Internet and social media are creating a culture and desire for constant connectivity and anywhere access to information. As these trends extend from the home into the work place, IT managers should consider seriously the opportunities for increased productivity and communication with customers and constituents, as well as understand the increased security risks posed by online, anytime access to private networks and data. Read more.
Get exclusive access to Invitation only events CIO, reports & analysis. 
