Businesses must ask their IT managers and internet service providers if their websites are able to accommodate users on both the iPv4 and IPv6 protocols, experts have warned.
The comments come as the Number Resource Organisation, which represents the world’s five regional internet registries, announced that the five remaining addresses blocks of IPv4 protocol addresses have been handed out.
Paul Wilson, director general of APNIC, one of the world’s five regional internet registries, says businesses must start preparing now and check with their ISPs to make sure their websites are accessible.
“Businesses really need to start asking questions regarding what the availability of IPv6 technology is, and how users are going to notice,” he says. “Businesses should be making sure that all of this is on track.”
The issue is this: computers connect to the internet through IP addresses, which are essentially a combination of numbers. During the early days of the internet, the IPv4 protocol was used for IP addresses.
But as the number of internet users has grown, the number of IPv4 protocol addresses needed has also increased. This is a problem because there is only a limited number of addresses available under the IPv4 protocol.
And the number of devices using those addresses is increasing exponentially, with smartphones and tablets now a large part of the consumer electronics industry. Currently there are more devices accessing the internet than early users ever thought there would be.
And last night, the NRO handed out the last five remaining blocks. This point represents a milestone in the history of the internet, as it represents a point where usage has now become commonplace and more widespread than anyone had ever imagined.
This means that a new protocol needs to be introduced – IPv6 addresses. The only problem is that these two protocols – IPv4 and IPv6 – don’t necessarily communicate together, which could potentially restrict access to the internet.
Last year one expert even said that if Australia and other countries aren’t ready to move on to IPv6 technology, costs of using the internet on extra services such as smartphones and tablets may increase.
However, some ISPs are preparing. Yesterday iiNet told Delimiter that it has started preparations – but that individual websites need to adapt as well.
“The biggest problem with simply switching over to IPv6 is that websites will need to be able support it,” iiNet communications manager Anthony Fisk said. “We expect that for several years, systems will try to use IPv6 first then IPv4. Eventually we phase out the use of IPv4”.
This is where SMEs come in. Wilson says businesses need to start preparing now and make sure all of their websites are prepared.
“Your response will completely depend on who you are, what your role on the internet is… there is no one right answer. But businesses need to be aware of this.”
Wilson says businesses need to start talking – talk to your IT manager, your technical manager and your internet service provider to make sure that your website is IPv6 ready and you don’t encounter any connection problems.
“You need to be made aware of what’s happening… do you have a IPv6 plan or port? If not now, when? You need to look at this stuff now.”
The impacts of not transferring to IPv6 protocol could eventually impact businesses, Wilson says.
“For instance, you have an ISP building their next roll out to residential areas or businesses. They won’t receive IPv4 addresses, they will get IPv6 addresses… and they will have to be ready to use those and make sure they are accessible.”
“They need to be able to serve both protocols. The interconnection is available, but it needs to be done through certain technology.”
While Wilson says the ISPs should be doing their jobs, SMEs need to take it upon themselves to ask.
“Go to your ISP and ask if they are IPv6 ready and capable. You need to start asking questions as to what the IPv6 availability for your business actually is and how you can be fully connected to the internet.”
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
