The cost of IPv6 implementation and who does actually need it

RIPE NCC, in its report "Statistics of IPv6 implementation in the region," said that currently 45% of all LIRs do not have IPv6 at all, some IPv6 addresses are allocated, but this does not mean anything. Many of them own IPs but do not apply any in the infrastructure. While many prefer to use IPv4 addresses. The Internet community knows that only get 2 RIR out of 5 (RIPE NCC and Afrinic) are still allocating.

You can not deny the fact that at the present time v4 addresses have been actively inserted for sale. Approximately 15% of addresses hidden in stashes are already being sold, but sellers want to get one amount, and buyers offer other. But the market works, because to buy a block of addresses is several times cheaper than buying equipment that supports the IPv6 protocol and its configuration.

Who needs Ipv6?

It can be said that the most urgent need for a new protocol is manifested in data centers with a large number of servers. It will also be useful for operators of broadband networks. There is also a corresponding need for cellular operators, because each of the connected devices requires its own address. At the same time, for users, their IP address is usually not interesting. A public IP address is only needed for players and for professional peer-to-peer users.

As for IoT, at first glance it really does need more addresses. But does it need a dedicated IP addresses? Experts believe that there is no direct need for this: no one needs his vacuum cleaner could go online from a public IP address. Moreover, then there will be a need to remember passwords. It does not matter what addresses there are, so you can distribute temporary addresses on the spot approximately as it is organized in data centers, with one or two ports.

Financial issue

The complexity of implementing IPv6 is many times more complicated than IPv4. And this complexity is growing: so, recently, the providers have changed the models of switches and routers, but the old ones did not disappear anywhere. In terms of software, the situation has become even more difficult, there is software that developers are afraid to update, there are new OS for smartphones, but all the old ones have remained. Not to mention that most home routers do not work with IPv6. Who will finance their substitution?

If you count in absolute figures, then the IPv6 implementation for ISP costs $ 35-40 per user, and on the market the IPv4 address will cost $ 15-13. The lack of IPv4 addresses is an excuse for optimization.