Launch of IPv6

The Government decided to facilitate the use of Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) in the country in June 2009.

National IPv6 Deployment Roadmap was released in July 2010. Salient features of this roadmap include action plan for telecom service providers, formation of Task Force for implementation of IPv6, formation of Indian IPv6 Centre for Innovation and development of standards and specifications for IPv6 conformance and interoperability etc.

The steps taken by the Government for transition from Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) to IPv6 by stakeholders include the following.

         i.            Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) in Department of Telecom is coordinating with all stakeholders for transition from (IPv4) to IPv6.

       ii.            Central Government Ministries/Departments, State Governments and Telecom operators have been advised to procure IPv6 complaint equipments.

      iii.            Five workshops were held in New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata during 2009-10 for creating awareness and working out methodology for transition from (IPv4) to IPv6.

     iv.            IPv6 training program was held in November 2009 in association with Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), Australia.

       v.            Checklist for facilitating (IPv4) to IPv6 transition has been issued by TEC in December 2009.

     vi.            Interactions and meetings are held by TEC with nodal officers from various government organizations and service providers for transition to IPv6.

    vii.            It has been decided to form a Task Force on IPv6 implementation with three tier structure having oversight committee, steering committee and nine working groups.