Understanding the Importance of IPv6 Connectivity

As of now, you don’t have an ‘absolute need’ for IPv6. However, it’s beneficial to understand why IPv6 is becoming increasingly important in the digital landscape. You likely already have an IPv6 address, as demonstrated by using the ipconfig or ifconfig command, which will reveal it.

The Transition from IPv4 to IPv6

Whenever IPv4 addresses ran out, it became clear that we needed a new system to support our growing number of internet-connected devices. In July 2015, IPv4 addresses were essentially depleted. Despite most of the internet still primarily using IPv4, IPv6 was implemented back in 2012 and is quickly gaining traction among Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and companies. It's expected that within a few years, it will become the norm.

Comparing IPv4 and IPv6

IPv6 significantly expands the addressing capacity, providing about 340 undecillion unique addresses compared to IPv4’s 4 billion. With projections estimating that by 2020, the number of internet-connected devices could reach 50 billion, assuming that the majority of these devices will primarily use IPv6, it's becoming imperative to understand and support this protocol.

IPv6 Addressing Capacity

IPv4 addresses, which consist of 32 bits, offer a limited pool of 4,294,967,296 unique addresses. In contrast, IPv6 addresses, which are 128 bits in length, provide an astronomical number of unique addresses, making them virtually limitless. This expansive addressing capacity is a key reason why IPv6 is being deployed to support the rapidly growing number of internet-connected devices.

IPv6 in the Future

While you may not yet need it, the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 is happening. Anything that has an IPv6 address will also have an IPv4 address. However, as the number of devices that can connect to the internet continues to grow, the importance of IPv6 will increase. In the coming years, as more devices and services adopt IPv6, it will become an absolute necessity to have this connectivity.

By understanding and embracing IPv6, organizations and individual users can pave the way for a more connected and efficient future.

Infographic: World IPv6 Launch

Refer to the World IPv6 Launch infographic to see the progress made by organizations and the global commitment to moving towards IPv6.