Soon refrigerators will also have their own IP enabling them to have updated information about goods available in the webshop, while we can also remotely manage the smart camera system installed in our homes, if it connects to the web in a secure way. IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) creates one of the technological platforms required for this, and IT experts of the world have been engaged in perfecting it since the early ’90-ies. The need for IP addresses required for the ever higher volume of devices communicating with each other on the internet will continue to grow, therefore taking a new protocol into use that can allocate addresses in a much wider range becomes especially justifiable.

The IPv6 technology eliminates the main mistake of IPv4, which can only a limited number of public IP addresses simultaneously. End points with IPv6 addresses can communicate with the internet directly, because – unlike IPv4 – this protocol does not require separate private and public IP addresses and translation between them. Consequent to the lack of IPv4 addresses the customer may receive a private IPv4 address and a public address (NAT - Network Address Translation) is aligned with that, enabling browsing on the internet. This way of operation is difficult to sustain with the continuous growth, and also imposes limitations on customers in case of certain internet applications. There is no such problem with IPv6 as the range of available addresses is much wider. Making dimension easier to understand: the population of Earth recently reached 7 billion, while IPv6 makes 2³⁶

In 2017 Telekom will introduce services that enable customers to directly experience the advantages of IPv6: having a fix IPv6 the personalization of the personal firewall becomes available at mobile end points, as well as IP cameras and similar devices can be managed remotely. In case of devices provided by Telekom (if they are IPv6 enabled) to its fix line customers, the company sets the new protocol remotely. Customers with residential mobile subscriptions – if the device is IPv4/IPv6 enabled – can do it themselves, while in case of new devices sold by Telekom this will be the default setting already. Migration of mobile prepaid customers will start in 2017.

More information about the IPv6 technology made available by Telekom:https://www.telekom.hu/rolunk/ipv6