ISPs

An ISP’s transition to IPv6 requires moving from a service exclusively based on IPv4 to one that will support both IPv4 and IPv6. For this it is necessary to introduce a new technology, without interrupting or degrading existing services. Three fundamental aspects should be taken into consideration:

• Providing IPv6 services to customers
• Deploying IPv6 within the provider’s network
• Interconnection with other IPv6 providers

In all these cases there are different possible strategies to choose from. The following are some of the most common scenarios:

• Tunneling and/or dual snack mechanisms to provide IPv6 connectivity with the customer
• Implementing dual stack in the provider’s backbone or utilizing mechanisms such as 6PE that allow transport of IPv6 over the already existing MPLS structure
• Establishing native IPv6 peerings with upstream providers or at NAPs/IXPs.

In addition to technical considerations, there are other issues an ISP must consider, mainly regarding the economic aspects involved in this type of transition.
The documentation listed below contains examples of all these aspects.
Documentation:

•  
  • Scenarios and Analysis for Introducing IPv6 into ISP Networks
  • IPv6 in a regional ISP
  • Early IPv6 Deployment in a Global IP Network: Was it Worth it?
    Yves Poppes, VNSL/Teleglobe
  • Implementation at COMSAT
    Federico Diano, COMSAT
  • IPv6 Implementation in a Multi-Vendor Backbone Environment
    Roque Gagliano, ANTEL
  • Transition Mechanisms
  • Cisco IPv6 Solutions
  • Enabling the Next Generation of Networking
    with End-to-End IPv6