IPv6 is a standard for assigning Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.
Every device that is connected to the internet needs to be assigned an IP address to connect. IPv6 is the new standard, introduced to replace IPv4 since 2012.
There is a relatively limited stock of IPv4 addresses left to be assigned. While IPv4 offers 4.3 billion addresses, IPv6 offers 340,282,366,920,938,000,000,000,000,000 billion addresses.
Many major broadband providers still assign Internet Protocol (IP) addresses using the IPv4 standard. When the stock is depleted, internet service providers will have to trade or lease addresses to allow new customers to connect to the internet.
Some ISPs have been using an alternative IPv4 sharing technique called Carrier Grade NAT (CGN), by which an IPv4 address is assigned to a network or site and then shared between end-points.
BT announced in September 2015 that it would be rolling out IPv6 to 100 percent of customers by December 2016, while Sky has been moving customers onto IPv6 since April 2015. Providers such as AAISP, Clara.net, Entanet, Exa Networks, Goscomb Technologies, IDNet, Webtapestry have also moved to IPv6.
The ability to assign more IP addresses available will be crucial as more and more devices are connected in the Internet of Things (IoT) era.
Content from our partners
