Telstra has begun providing enterprise, government and wholesale customers with Internet Protocol version 6 connectivity (IPv6). IPv6 addresses the emerging internet protocol addresses shortages by extending the length of the address, which is unavailable under the current IPv4 technology used.

 

Under the new move, IPv4 and IPv6 will be run concurrently in a duel-stacked method, which will allow Telstra’s enterprise, government and wholesale Internet customers to be connected with either protocol. If customers choose to opt-in to IPv6, they will have access to the global IPv6 internet, including connectivity to multiple providers internationally.

 

“Currently IPv4 offers 32 bits for an internet address, with IPv6 an internet address has 128 bits. This means that with IPv4 there were about 4 billion internet addresses, with IPv6 there are more internet addresses than grains of sand on the planet. While 4 billion sounds like a lot of internet addresses, globally we expect to run out of these in the next few years,” Telstra’s Director  of Transport and Routing, Mr David Robertson said.

 

“In coming years we expect that IPv6 will become the norm and customers will need to opt-out if they wish to use IPv4. However in the early phases of the transition, we’ll be working directly with customers to support them as they make this change,” said Mr Robertson.