IPv4 addresses: Less than 10% still available

The bodies overseeing the allocation of Internet number resources confirmed less than 10% of available IPv4 addresses remain unallocated.

Axel Pawlik, the Managing Director of the RIPE NCC – the organisation overseeing distribution of Internet number resources across Europe and the Middle East - told IPv6 Now, “This is a key milestone in the growth and development of the global Internet. It is vital that the Internet community take considered and determined action to ensure the global adoption of IPv6. The limited IPv4 addresses will not allow us enough resources to achieve the ambitions we all hold for global Internet access. The deployment of IPv6 is a key infrastructure development that will enable the network to support the billions of people and devices that will connect in the coming years."

Currently, the vast majority of Internet traffic operates over an aging protocol known as IPv4. Every device connected to the net needs a unique address number to be able to communicate. With a small percentage of unallocated numbers left, anyone not already connected risks being left behind.

IPv6 is seen as the savior. It offers many billions more addresses and would allow growth to continue. Advocates of the technology have long been trying to stimulate sluggish uptake, trying to overcome objections about cost and inconvenience.

A recent European Commission survey found of the 610 government, educational and other industry organisations questioned across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, just 17% had upgraded to IPv6.

Globally, the picture is little better and although IPv6 allocations increased by almost 30% in 2009, the call continues for governments, vendors, enterprises, telecoms operators and end users to take up the new technology before it is too late.

The US-based body that oversees number allocation echoed the call to act now. Rod Beckstrom, ICANN’s President and Chief Executive Officer, told IPv6 Now, “For the global Internet to grow and prosper without limitation, we need to encourage the rapid widespread adoption of the IPv6 protocol.”