IPv6 Adds Value to IP-Address Issue

European service providers are launching GPRS end-to-end solutions at a staggering rate, promising the Internet in every pocket. But there's a catch: GPRS and other next-generation delivery schemes require IP addresses to provide wireless-data and Internet-browsing capabilities. In many cases, end users may need more than one IP address, especially if they access their corporate Intranets as well as personal and business ISPs.

This reality is leaving many Europeans fretting that their current address allocation under IPv4 will be insufficient. To counter this feared shortage, GSM providers have pleaded their case to Amsterdam-based Reseaux IP Europeens, asking for relief in the form of 32 million new addresses by mid-year.

Even with this allocation, there's a question if there'll be enough addresses under IPv4 to accommodate the anticipated 1 billion addresses needed for mobile users. And as this IP drought works its way across Europe, another question arises: Will U.S. providers have enough addresses to implement their wireless Internet capabilities?

According to Glen Morrow, Nortel Networks wireless Internet advisor, current estimates don't take into account wireless' needs. And as IP addresses begin to be used by devices such as appliances with Internet connections, the current availability will be woefully inadequate.

Howie Waterman, Verizon Wireless staff director of public relations, is uncertain of long-term resource availability. He said that it will depend on growth as wireless Internet awareness levels increase.

Web services from Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless have been on the U.S. market for about six months. Waterman said once the take-up rates start accelerating, it will be easier to anticipate the need. Even then, it doesn't concern him because he expects that IPv6 will be implemented, supplying virtually an unlimited supply of addresses.

Charu Gupta, Renaissance Worldwide senior manager, agreed and said Europe's dramatic wireless-device proliferation has exacerbated the problem where the wired Internet has been slower to take off.

"Since the Internet has arisen and grown from the United States, the United States historically and even today dominates the domain-name-registration abilities," Gupta said. "The United States commands close to 80% of the IP addresses that exist."

IPv4 allows only about 4 billion IP addresses, which could be easily gobbled up as wireless devices proliferate and require multiple addresses each. IPv6, which is currently under review, would increase IP addresses infinitely, Gupta said. IPv6 brings other benefits, including the potential for more revenue-generating opportunities. IPv6 makes the Internet more robust by building in quality of service, levels of security and a capability to auto-configure the end-user appliance. According to Gupta, IPv6 will make it easier for vendors and consumers to make their appliances and services Internet-accessible. However, there's a downside.

"IPv6 sounds wonderful, sounds great, sounds like it's going to solve a lot of problems, except it does involve turning over the entire network of the Internet," Gupta said. "That's a pretty significant enterprise."

As daunting as that challenge will be, there will be built-in value-adds for service providers to implement IPv6.

"There may be a capability for a company like AT&T WorldNet to deliver a higher level of security or a higher level of performance," she said. "Because they've implemented IPv6, they'll be able to bill someone like a bank at a higher rate."

More bandwidth will enable more complex and interesting applications on the Internet. This trend will drive service providers to invest in bringing up their platforms and bringing those applications into IPv6.

"Then they'll deploy these types of services and start gaining back some of the money they have invested in the network," Gupta said.