As reports suggest, the action plan would include a shift from IP version 4 (IPv4) to IP version 6 (IPv6). Under the present forecast, India is likely to run out of IP addresses by August 2012.
IPv4 allows only few billion addresses, of lesser value than IPv6. Besides, IPv6 ensures more security and also allows for better quality of service and mobility due to its 128-bit addressing system.
By the end of 2011, the major service providers are expected to shift to iPv6 and the government offices will do the same by March 2012.
There is no doubt that some of the government’s infrastructure is far older and outdated. The upgrade will doubtless take considerable time.
Many manufacturers and vendors have also been selling 1Pv6 compatible devices. A publicity campaign may also go a long way towards smoothing the transition process. An Indian IPv6 Task Force has also been established and is responsible for the detailed activities of IPIG.
The major work of the task force will be to draft a new roadmap for transition from IPv4 to the IPv6 mixed environment and plan for complete transition to IPv6 by the end of 2010. There will also be cost elements involved in the migration to IPv6 – especially in identifying R&D projects for IPv6, for security features like firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs).
There will also be a need, from an IT perspective, to deal with hardware upgrades and training and awareness programs – to be undertaken by the Department of Information Technology and Indian industry – to make suitable recommendations to DIT for considerations/approval.
Users in India are given IP addresses by the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (Apnic). With every telecom action plan, however, it takes years to actually implement changes. It would be no wonder to see India actually running out of web addresses by 2012. Instead, mud-slinging, scams, blame-games and inter-departmental fights continue to desert the plan and the purpose.
So, again DoT continuing dot dot dot……………but no dot com?