The Regional Internet Registries, IPv6 Task Forces and IPv6 Forum Pledge Co-operative Support of Global IPv6 Deployment

Amsterdam, May 11, 2004 – The Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), the IPv6 Task Forces and the IPv6 Forum are working in co-operation to support global IPv6 deployment.

The four Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), APNIC, ARIN, LACNIC and the RIPE NCC, are responsible for the management of global Internet numbering resources, including IPv4 and IPv6 address space, throughout the world. The RIRs confirm their commitment and continued support towards the deployment of IPv6 in co-operation with the IPv6 Task Forces and with the support of the IPv6 Forum.

The IPv6 Task Forces are focused on rapid IPv6 deployment. They see the adoption of IPv6 by industry, governments, schools and universities is particularly important. The extra address space offered by IPv6 will facilitate the deployment of widespread “always-on” Internet services including broadband access for all. In addition, IPv6's built-in encryption will help improve Internet security and is promoted by many government institutions globally.

The co-operation among the RIRs and the IPv6 Task Forces includes key aspects such as:

• Supporting awareness, education and deployment of IPv6;
• Disseminating information on the progress of IPv6 deployment;
• Encouraging dialogue and ensuring the necessary co-operation between all involved parties;
• Benchmarking IPv6 deployment progress;
• Supporting the adoption of Domain Name Service infrastructure necessary for IPv6;
• Encouraging the participation of all those who are interested in the IPv6 policy development process.

This co-operative effort between the RIRs and the IPv6 Task Forces recognises that while IPv4 address space will be available for many years, new users and usages of the Internet have the potential to rapidly increase the utilisation of IPv4 address space. With the advent of multiple always-on devices, wireless handhelds and 3G mobile handsets, the Internet community needs to prepare for a sharp increase in IP address space utilisation. In order to prevent future operational problems, the global rollout of IPv6 is essential for enabling the development and adoption of new applications and services.

The rollout of IPv6 on this scale requires significant preparation, particularly in terms of training and planning. The RIRs and the IPv6 Task Forces encourage early evaluation by network operators and industry players, in order to promote the necessary technical dialogue and to facilitate widespread adoption. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can already deploy IPv6 in non-disruptive ways that do not require additional investment while providing added value to their customers.

“The RIPE NCC has supported IPv6 from an early stage. We are committed to ensuring that IPv6 resources are provided to RIPE NCC members whenever they are required. We will continue to use the long-established system of address distribution where IP addresses are allocated according to demonstrated need wherever that need is demonstrated,” stated Axel Pawlik, Managing Director of the RIPE NCC. “The RIPE NCC is already providing IPv6 training to our members and other tools required to facilitate IPv6 deployment,” he added.

Jordi Palet, Founding Member of the EU IPv6 Task Force and co-chair of the IPv6 Forum's Awareness and Education Working Group, sees the formalisation of this co-operative support of IPv6 deployment as an important development. “This co-operative effort ensures the global recognition of the strategic importance of IPv6 in enabling the continued development of the Internet and the worldwide information society. This ongoing co-ordination will have a positive global benefit for end users and the industry, by reinforcing the resilience of the Internet while allowing for the development of ever-improving applications and services,” he said.

Paul Wilson, APNIC Director General, noted that significant advances have been taking place in all the RIR regions with respect to IPv6 allocation and policy. “The RIRs are already working with the IANA and large ISPs to facilitate the delegation of large blocks of IPv6 address space,” he stated. “In the Asia Pacific region, a number of countries are taking the lead in terms of IPv6 deployment, and APNIC will continue to offer its support in these areas, and elsewhere, to allow the entire region to benefit from IPv6.”

“In the ARIN region, we have received clear direction from the community to make all necessary preparations for IPv6 deployment. This includes work on the allocation policies and procedures, as well as making our own services available via IPv6,” stated John Curran, Acting President of ARIN.

“LACNIC is involved in the formation of the Latin American and Caribbean IPv6 Task Force and is active in encouraging the participation of its members and the community in IPv6 deployment and policy, and our services are already available over IPv6” said Raúl Echeberría, CEO of LACNIC.

“This global co-operation signals another historic milestone to further accelerate take-up of IPv6 for the global good,” applauded Latif Ladid, President of the IPv6 Forum.

“The North American IPv6 Task Force supports the worldwide collaboration with the RIRs to further support the deployment of IPv6 and the next generation Internet mobile society using IPv6,” stated Jim Bound, Chair NAv6TF and IPv6 Forum CTO.

As an IPv6 Forum Board member and an ICANN Address Council member, Takashi Arano of the Asia Pacific IPv6 Task Force steering committee supports this collaboration. “Address management, which the RIRs are in charge of, is one of the crucial components for the commercial deployment of IPv6 and its stable operation. I hope collaboration between IPv6 Task Forces and the RIRs will result in the advent of an IPv6-powered ‘everything-everywhere-every time' networking world,” he stated.

ABOUT IPV6

IPv6 is a new version of the data networking protocols on which the Internet is based. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) developed the basic specifications during the 1990s. The primary motivation for the design and deployment of IPv6 was to expand the available ‘address space' of the Internet, thereby enabling billions of new devices (PDAs, cellular phones, appliances, etc.), new users and ‘always-on' technologies (xDSL, cable, Ethernet-to-the-home, fibre-to-the-home, Power Line Communications, etc.).

The existing IPv4 protocol has a 32-bit address space providing for a theoretical 232 (approximately 4 billion) unique globally addressable network interfaces. IPv6 has a 128-bit address space that can uniquely address 2128 (about 340 sexillion¹) network interfaces.

About the EU IPv6 Task Force

The European IPv6 Task Force is a volunteer organisation, with over 500 members, open to all the interested parties in advancing the IPv6 deployment in the European region, in co-operation with the rest of the world and other related entities. Further information is available on the IPv6 Task Forces websites: http://www.eu.ipv6tf.org, http://www.ipv6tf.org, http://www.na.ipv6tf.org, http://www.ap.ipv6tf.org, http://www.lac.ipv6tf.org.

About the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs)

Four Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) exist today. They provide number resource allocation and registration services that support the operation of the Internet globally.

The RIRs are independent, not-for-profit organisations that work together to meet the needs of the global Internet community. They facilitate direct participation by all interested parties and ensure that the policies for allocating Internet number resources (such as IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers) are defined by those who require them for their operations.

The RIRs ensure that number resource policies are consensus-based and that they are applied fairly and consistently. The RIR framework provides a well-established combination of bottom-up decision-making and global co-operation that has created a stable, open, transparent and documented process for developing number resource policies.

The RIR framework contributes to the common RIR goal and purpose of ensuring fair distribution, responsible management and effective utilisation of number resources necessary to maintain the stability of the Internet.

The Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) currently consist of:

About the IPv6 Forum

The IPv6 Forum is a world-wide consortium of over 160 leading Internet service vendors, National Research & Education Networks and international ISPs, with a clear mission to promote IPv6 by improving market and user awareness, creating a quality and secure New Generation Internet and allowing world-wide equitable access to knowledge and technology. The key focus of the IPv6 Forum today is to provide technical guidance for the deployment of IPv6. IPv6 Summits are hosted by the IPv6 Forum and staged in various locations around the world to provide industry and market with the best available information on this rapidly advancing technology.
http://www.ipv6forum.org.

About the North American IPv6 Task Force

The North American IPv6 Task Force is an all-volunteer non-vendor/service/provider or other entity interest with the IPv6 mission of assisting the North American geography as sub task force of the IPv6 Forum for deployment, education, awareness, technical analysis/direction, transition analysis, political/business/economic/social analysis support and other efforts as required. The members see IPv6 as more important than their own self-interests.
http://www.nav6tf.org.