RIPE NCC Launches IPv6 Implementation Guide

16 November 2009 - The RIPE NCC, the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for Europe, the Middle East and parts of Central Asia today launches How to Act Now, a resource to help business and government representatives plan and execute IPv6 deployment. This is the first tool of its kind to focus on deploying IPv6 in a real-world, business environment.

How to Act Now includes expert advice, video clips, and hints and tips on all aspects of planning and implementing IPv6 within your network, no matter how large or small. The content addresses the questions and challenges faced by business and technical representatives from large enterprises, small businesses, ISPs and government organisations when adopting IPv6.

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version six) is the latest version of the Internet addressing protocol. All devices connected to the Internet need an IP address in order to connect to other devices in the network. The majority of the Internet is currently run on IPv4, but only about ten per cent of the address space now remains unallocated. Adoption of IPv6 is vital to enable new users and devices to connect to the Internet.

Organisations that delay IPv6 adoption may face increased costs due to poor procurement planning and rushed deployment. Failure to ensure that all devices and networks are IPv6 compatible could lead to problems communicating with other Internet users and inhibit access to online content and services.

"With most estimates putting IPv4 exhaustion only two years away, at best, it is clear that concerted action on IPv6 deployment is necessary to ensure the stability of the Internet and its continued growth," comments Axel Pawlik, Managing Director of the RIPE NCC. "Failure to deploy IPv6 ahead of the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses is one of the biggest threats facing the Internet today."

"With How to Act Now, the RIPE NCC aims to help all organisations, from governments and vendors to ISPs and telcos, to put the adoption and integration of IPv6 at the top of their technology agenda. Deployment of new technology takes time, and as the point of IPv4 exhaustion looms ever closer, time will be the one luxury that we as an industry no longer have."

How to Act Now will be hosted on IPv6 Act Now, the website operated by the RIPE NCC aimed at raising awareness of IPv4 exhaustion and encouraging IPv6 adoption. One of the world's five RIRs, the RIPE NCC launched the site in May 2009 as a resource directory for all stakeholders to aid the deployment of IPv6.

Notes to Editors

About the RIPE NCC

Founded in 1992, the RIPE NCC is an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation that supports the infrastructure of the Internet. The most prominent activity of the RIPE NCC is to act as a Regional Internet Registry (RIR) providing global Internet resources and related services to a current membership base of around 5,500 members in over 70 countries. These members consist mainly of Internet Service Providers (ISPs), telecommunication organisations and large corporations located in Europe, the Middle East and parts of Central Asia.

As one of the world's five RIRs, the RIPE NCC performs a range of critical functions including:

• The reliable and stable allocation of Internet number resources (IPv4, IPv6 and AS Number resources)
• The responsible storage and maintenance of this registration data
• The provision of an open, publicly accessible database where this data can be accessed

The RIPE NCC also provides a range of technical and coordination services for the Internet community. These services include the operation of K-root (one of the 13 root name servers), the Deployment of Internet Security Infrastructure (DISI) and DNS Monitoring (DNSMON).

As a result of its established position in the Internet industry, the RIPE NCC has played an important role in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), European Union (EU) workshops and government briefings on key issues in the current Internet landscape.

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