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In keeping with its initiative to push broadband growth in the country, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a consultation paper discussing the need for transiting from IPv4 (the current version of internet protocol) to the next generation IPv6.

TRAI feels that IPv4 may not be sufficient to cater to the growing number of "always-on" broadband connections, which requires a large number of IP addresses.

IPv6 may be a solution. Not only does it expand the available address space on the internet, thereby allowing new devices like personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, home appliances and PCs to remain connected to the internet, but it also provides better security and quality of service.

TRAI, which has been monitoring the development of IPv6 in India and worldwide, had, in its recommendations on broadband, suggested the need for further analysis and consultation on the transition to IPv6. In fact, anticipating the growth of internet and broadband connections, the government has already constituted a group –­ called the IPv6 Implementation Group (IPIG) –­ to speed up and facilitate the adoption of IPv6 in the country.

The TRAI consultation paper provides the necessary platform to discuss various issues such as the role of the regulator/ licensor, the need for a national IPv6 backbone, policy initiatives required, cost implications, establishing a national agency to manage IP addresses, and an IPv6 transition strategy for service providers. Some of the issues are discussed below...

Need for transition
According to TRAI calculations, India has just 2.8 million IPv4 addresses compared to 40 million in China. If India wants to achieve 20 per cent internet penetration, and three people share each IP address, it would need 101/8 blocks. This is more than the remaining global IP address space of 82/8 blocks. APNIC, the IP address registry for Asia-Pacific, will not be able to provide this vital resource and therefore, India will have to rely on the Network Address Translation (NAT) technique, which would add further complexity to its internet infrastructure. Such reliance on conventional techniques may make the transition to IPv6 even costlier. The Indian industry has so far not engaged in a largescale deployment of IPv6.

Creation of national IPv6 backbone
For conducting research and demonstration of IPv6 native support products, institutions in India are required to be connected to IPv6 international test bed networks like 6Bone. For this, there is a need to create a large-scale national production IPv6 test bed similar to the European Geant or the Chinese Next Generation Internet.

Issues for consultation

• Whether IPv6 is the only remedy to address the shortage of IP addresses or alternative methods like NAT and CIDR can be used on existing technology (IPv4).
• Whether the licensor/regulator has any regulatory role to play in the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 for the country or can the industry handle it on its own.
• If yes, what are the regulatory steps and policy initiatives that are required?
• Whether IPv6 migration can help improve the QoS of internet services for the end-user.
• Which transition mechanism/strategy is best suited for migration from IPv4 to IPv6? How can the DNS infrastructure be upgraded?
• Whether permanent (static) IP addresses should be mandated for end-to-end "always-on" broadband connection.
• Is there any problem with the existing system of IP address allocation in India?
• If yes, which is the most suited agency to handle IP address allocation at a national level?
• Should a neutral, non-profit autonomous agency be established to manage IP addresses for the country?
• Should that agency be created under the aegis of the government, the National Internet Exchange of India or a separate agency?
• Is there a need to create a national test bed for a national IPv6 backbone?
• With ISPs being the main stakeholders, having to bear the transition cost, what should be the IPv6 transition strategy for ISPs in India?