Within the framework of a successful transition to IPv6, the role governments may have in relation to the entire process is of key importance.
There are countries where the involvement of authorities from areas such as communications, energy, science, technology, education, etc. have made it possible to establish regulations that, in the short or medium term, become responsible for promoting the deployment and later adoption of the new protocol.
Among others, the countries and organizations that have taken steps in this direction include France, India, Spain, Australia, Japan, United States, and Malaysia. More concretely, and with the only purpose of citing a few examples, in February 2002 the European Commission issued a communication to the Council and the European Parliament encouraging each sector of the economy to implement the actions necessary to achieve the transition to IPv6, in the understanding that integrating all efforts will result in the early implementation of the new protocol together with all the advantages it represents. Another example is the government of Malaysia that, together with the USM (Universiti Sains Malaysia) and other institutions devoted to research and development, has been working since 2005 with the aim of transforming Malaysia into an “IPv6-enabled” nation towards the year 2010 by planning IPv6 promotion and training programs. Furthermore, the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requires that by June 2008 the backbones of the country’s federal government agencies be using IPv6.
In addition to the above mentioned examples, other movements such as national and regional IPv6 Tasks Forces are implementing actions to promote government and state authority involvement in the process.
Examples of Actions Implemented by Governments:
JAPAN:
The Government focuses its actions mainly on supporting, creating and funding two well differentiated sets of initiatives:
INDIA:
In January, 2006, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India published a document titled “TRAI releases Recommendations on Transition from IPv4 to IPv6 in India.” Among its main recommendations, the document includes:
1. Regulatory issues related to transition from IPv4 to IPv6
- (i) Definition of IP address mentioned in ISP license to be amended to enable 128 bits to be used as needed for IPv6 based addressing.
2. Encouragement by Government for IPv6 migration
- (i) Usage of IPv6 in the platforms/applications pertaining to e-governance should be mandated. The Government should also mandate IPv6 compatibility in its own procurement of IT systems and networks.
- (ii) Workshops and seminars, to bring awareness about IPv6 among service providers and end-users community should be conducted through Government agencies.
3. Creation of Internet Registry in country
- (i) National Internet Registry (NIR) in the country should be established within the framework of APNIC, the Regional Internet Registry.
4. Setting up IPV6 test bed
- (i) Expanding the existing IPv6 test bed of ERNET to make it countrywide and accessible to all interested parties.
- (ii) Upgrading NIXI as a national test bed for IPv6 and interconnection among its various nodes to provide access to all the ISPs.
- (iii) Encouraging TEC, CDOT, CDAC to set up the IPv6 test beds through Government funding.
http://www.trai.gov.in/trai/upload/Recommendations/3/recom9jan06.pdf
FRANCE:
In this case, recommendations were issued by the IPv6 TF. The IPv6 Task Force was promoted by the Government and, among others, has the following members: 6WIND, AFNIC, Alcatel, France Télécom R&D, G6, RENATER, Renault.
These recommendations were presented to the Ministry of Research and New Technologies, and can be found at: http://www.fr.ipv6tf.org/DATA/PRESS/Recommandations%20IPv6%20TFF%20(English).pdf
Documentation and links on the subject:
