IPv6

- Overview

IPv6 is a newer version of IP that uses a 128-bit address format containing numbers and letters. Why does IPv6 exist? While 4.3 billion potential IP addresses in IPv4 may seem like a lot, we need more IP addresses! 

There are a lot of people in the world with a lot of devices. This is an even bigger problem with the rise of IoT devices (Internet of Things) and sensors, as they greatly expand the number of connected devices. Simply put, the world is running out of only IPv4 addresses, which is the biggest reason we need IPv6.

Despite slow growth, the adoption of IPv6 is expected to rise in 2024. The U.S. government's IPv6 mandate and improving equipment availability will drive demand and deployment.

Please refer to the following for more information:

• Wikipedia: Wikipedia

- IPv4 vs. IPv6

The most obvious difference is that IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, while IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses. IPv4 supports approximately 4.29 billion addresses. IPv6, on the other hand, supports 2¹²⁸ different addresses.

This means that IPv6 provides 1,028 times more addresses than IPv4, which fundamentally solves the "address exhaustion" problem (at least for the foreseeable future). 

IPv6 is also an alphanumeric address separated by colons, while IPv4 is just numbers separated by periods. 

- Technical Differences between IPv4 and IPv6

There are also some technical differences between IPv4 and IPv6, although non-developers don't really need to understand them. 

Some of the most notable technical differences are:

• IPv6 includes built-in Quality of Service (QoS).
• IPv6 has a built-in network security layer (IPsec).
• IPv6 eliminates Network Address Translation (NAT) and allows end-to-end connectivity at the IP layer.
• Multicast is part of the IPv6 base specification, whereas in IPv4 it is optional. Multicast allows packets to be transmitted to multiple destinations in one operation.
• IPv6 has larger packet headers (approximately twice as large as IPv4).

- Future Trends in IP Location Technology

The primary future trend for internet IP addresses is a widespread adoption of IPv6, as the current IPv4 addresses are nearing depletion, with the focus shifting towards the vastly larger pool of IPv6 addresses which can accommodate the growing number of connected devices, particularly in the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem; this transition will be accompanied by improved IP address management tools utilizing AI and automation to efficiently allocate and manage IP addresses across complex networks.

Key points about the future of IP addresses: 

Dominant IPv6 adoption: Due to the scarcity of IPv4 addresses, the industry is rapidly transitioning to IPv6, which offers a practically limitless supply of addresses.

Enhanced IPAM tools: Advanced IP address management (IPAM) tools will be crucial to manage the large scale of IPv6 addresses, likely incorporating AI and machine learning for automated tasks and predictive analytics.

Cloud and Edge integration: As cloud and edge computing grow, IPAM strategies will need to adapt to manage distributed networks effectively.

Focus on security: With more connected devices, robust security measures will be essential for IP address management to combat potential threats like IP address spoofing.

Integration with IoT: The rising number of IoT devices will further accelerate the need for efficient IPv6 allocation and management. 

Potential impacts of this trend:

• Improved network scalability: IPv6 will enable the internet to support a significantly larger number of devices without running out of addresses.
• Simplified network management: Advanced IPAM tools will streamline the process of assigning and managing IP addresses across complex networks.
• Increased network security: Better IP address management practices can enhance network security by preventing unauthorized access and mitigating potential threats.

- IPv6 and The Mobile Internet

When you look at the progress major mobile network operators (MNOs) have made with IPv6, there’s no doubting the time for IPv6 is now. The mobile edge of the Internet is rapidly moving to IPv6 in preparation for 5G and IoT. Chances are if you use the Internet on your smartphone, you are connecting via IPv6. 

With the depletion of IPv4, IPv6 deployment is a key consideration for today’s MNOs in building a sustainable and scalable mobile network. Furthermore, as mobile networks rapidly move to IPv6, MNOs, device manufacturers, website/content providers, and application developers all must consider the implications of what a mobile IPv6 Internet means for them. 

Here are just a few reasons why IPv6 deployment should be a key consideration for Today’s MNOs and others doing business over mobile.

• 5G and The Future of IoT: Given the massive volume of devices promised by IoT and the rise of 5G with the associated push to the network edge, it is essential to use IPv6 and not be constrained by IPv4 address limitations. IPv4 simply cannot support the needs of a mobile provider to scale a network architecture to support 5G and IoT.
• Enabling seamless growth as Internet-connected devices and services rising: MONos, gaming platforms, streaming and the IoT will continue to grow in popularity, as will the number of devices that support them. As we reach the end of allocated IPv4 address space, the best way to enable seamless growth of these technologies is through the adoption of IPv6.
• Avoiding impacts to the performance of service for mobile customers: MNOs already know that IPv6 is the only way to connect large numbers of new customers, and MNOs are driving IPv6 adoption worldwide. For exterprises trying to connect with mobile users, it is an important trend to be aware of, since having content reachable only by IPv4 will impact the performance service.

[More to come ...]