Sprint said it is ready to deploy IP Version 6 (IPv6). The company said it is nearing initial beta testing of IPv6 MPLS VPNs on its Peerless IP (PIP) network, which provides a platform that is physically and logically isolated from the public Internet.
Customer trials are expected to begin in January, with general availability in the second quarter of 2008.
Iyad Tarazi, VP of network development at Sprint, said, “As an early adopter of IPv6 in an experimental capacity, we’ve been testing IPv6 applications with our customers for more than a decade, and our involvement has provided Sprint the expertise that is needed to develop solutions for the emerging addressing constraints and for the general market.”
IPv4 is facing problems with limited IP space address. IPv6 will increase the number of addresses, and the technology is also expected to make significant improvements in areas such as routing and auto configuration, resulting in better functionality and enhanced security.
The cable industry is preparing to make the move to IPv6 along with the migration to DOCSIS 3.0 technology.