The Internet has become an integral part of modern life, and its significance will only increase as new technologies and applications are created. As the number of connected devices continues to rise, however, the current Internet Protocol (IP) address system, IPv4, has reached its capacity. To address this problem, the global community has adopted IPv6 technology, which provides a greater number of unique addresses.
China has taken several measures to promote the adoption of IPv6 technology after recognising its potential to advance Internet innovation. With this, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated that eight departments, including them, the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, and the National Development and Reform Commission, issued the “About the Promotion of IPv6 “Implementation Opinions on Technology Evolution and Application Innovation Development” document.
This is intended to maximise the potential and technical benefits of the IPv6 protocol and better satisfy the higher requirements for a network carrying 5G, cloud-network integration, industrial Internet, and Internet of Things (IoT) scenarios.
It is anticipated that the IPv6 technology evolution and application innovation will yield remarkable results; consequently, network technology innovation capabilities will be significantly enhanced, the scope of application for innovative technologies such as IPv6+ will be further expanded, and the level of IPv6+ integrated applications in key industries will be significantly enhanced.
The implementation opinions are centred on constructing the IPv6 evolution technology system, bolstering the IPv6 evolution innovation industry foundation, accelerating the evolution and development of IPv6 infrastructure, expanding the IPv6+ industry integration application, and enhancing security assurance capabilities.
In terms of constructing an IPv6 evolution technology system, for instance, the implementation opinions call for promoting the integration and innovation of IPv6 and 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and other technologies, systematically promoting the formulation and implementation of IPv6 national standards and industry integration application policies, and increasing the contribution rate and influence of international standards.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated that they will collaborate with relevant departments to increase investment and support in, among other things, policies, standards, industries, and applications, and to promote government concerns, finance, energy, transportation, and other industries.
Realise the extensive application of IPv6+ technology, support the independent establishment of over 50 IPv6+ innovation cities in various regions, and establish benchmarks for the growth of key industries and key regions. IPv6 is the next-generation Internet protocol version developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and is a globally recognised next-generation Internet business application solution.
Currently, China has fully equipped its network and application infrastructure with IPv6 service capabilities, and reports added that there are over 740 million active IPv6 users.
China’s promotion of IPv6 technology demonstrates its recognition of the Internet’s importance in contemporary life and the need for continued innovation in this field. The adoption of IPv6 technology will provide the scalability and security features necessary to support the increasing number of connected devices and advanced applications that are currently propelling the development of the Internet.
Thus, advancing Internet innovation with IPv6 technology is critical for China’s continued economic growth and digital transformation. By embracing IPv6, China can ensure the long-term sustainability and security of its internet infrastructure, enable the development of new and innovative applications and services, and maintain its position as a global leader in the digital economy.
