IPv6 FAQ

When you enter a website’s URL in your browser – eg. www.netvigator.com – the domain name is translated into a string of numbers called an Internet Protocol address (IP address). This uniquely identifies a website.

Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the next-generation Internet Protocol (IP). This is the communications protocol that routes traffic through the Internet. IPv6 uses a 128-bit address, giving rise to 2128 – approximately 3.4x1038addresses – or a number amounting to 340,282 followed by 33 zeroes.

Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) is the main method by which IP addresses are assigned on the Internet. However, IPv4 addresses are running out fast as a result of explosive growth and the sheer number of devices accessing the web. In the main, IPv4 will soon run out, whereas IPv6 can solve the issue of insufficient IP address.

IPv4 is the protocol widely deployed today. IPv4 uses a 32-bit address, providing capacity for 232 addresses, amounting to about 4.3 billion. IPv6 succeeds IPv4 and uses a 128-bit address, giving rise to 2128 – approximately 3.4x1038 – addresses.

More devices accessing the Internet means more addresses need to be made available. In the main, IP addresses are provided according to the IPv4 standard. These will soon run out, so IPv6 has been introduced to provide a virtually unlimited number of addresses.

The IPv4 address pool is already insufficient to meet customer demand in some countries, with some Internet service providers already offering an IPv6-only service. In Hong Kong, existing devices and networks connected to the Internet with IPv4 addresses will continue to work. In fact, IPv4 is expected to co-exist with IPv6 via our dual-stack approach.

A dual-stack network allows IPv4 and IPv6 networks to run in parallel. This is a common approach among Internet service providers and supported by major operating systems and network vendors

Visit http://www.ipv6forum.com or http://www.worldipv6launch.org for more information.