A Business Guide to the Next Generation Internet Address

As we move to a world in which practically everything can be networked to everything else, we see more and more opportunities for innovation. But these opportunities also poses a challenge: As more and more devices get connected to the Internet—including computers, smartphones, innovative cloud computing platforms, and smart-grid tools—each of them is going to require an Internet Protocol (IP) address. That’s a lot of addresses, and that’s where IPv6 comes in. Internet Protocol version six, or IPv6, is an Internet addressing system designed to expand the number of available IP addresses. This expansion is necessary because the current number of addresses under Internet Protocol version four (IPv4) is gradually being exhausted. While IPv4 supports 4 billion addresses, IPv6 supports 340 trillion trillion trillion possible addresses. As such it represents a new generation of technology that can support unprecedented network growth, development, and innovation. In recent months, the Administration has been working to highlight the importance of the adoption and deployment of IPv6. We believe government can work in partnership with industry and other stakeholders to ensure that the technology that underpins the Internet continues to support innovation and economic growth. Though the IPv6 transition doesn't mean much for consumers right now—they can continue to use existing devices and IPv4 addresses—action and planning is needed by industry.