Gearing up for IPv6

MALAYSIA is expected to kick off a more concerted effort to fully harness and migrate to Internet protocol version 6 with the establishment of a National IPv6 Council, also known as the steering committee for IPv6. Initiated by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the proposed council/steering committee is currently awaiting approval from the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry (MEWC) and is expected to be operational within the year. With the steering committee in place as a guiding body, the country would have a clearer stand and direction on IPv6, and be more in line with Internet technology development which is crucial if aspirations to transform into a knowledge economy is to be realised. The adoption of IPv6, which has a 128-bit addressing capability compared to 32-bit IPv4, is vital to address the issue of depleting address space with the current protocol. Besides that, it offers an improved routing efficiency and quality of service, network auto-configuration with plug-and-play functionality, built-in end-to-end security extensions, and mobility support. IPv6 also enables a seamless convergence of video, voice and other data in a unified IP network. Head of the new technologies department at MCMC’s technical division, Ahmad Razif Ramli, said with the go-ahead from the Ministry, closer collaborative efforts with relevant parties from the industry, academia and other Ministries such the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) can then take place, rather than have islands of individual IPv6 efforts. “Once we get the consent, we will kick off initiatives in various identified areas. We have studied how the European Commission and the Japanese government spurred interest of IPv6 in their countries. It is something we have to do,” Ahmad Razif told Computimes in Kuala Lumpur last Friday. “Just to get streamlined activities in place, maybe the committee can even propose that all future procurement of Internet-related equipment should be IPv6-ready.” He added that it was just one of the recommendations and proposals that could be put forward to the Government. Elaborating on the composition of the proposed committee, Ahmad Razif said MEWC and Mosti are represented. “Universiti Sains Malaysia is playing a big role. Also on the committee are Asia Pacific Advanced Network, Malaysia Research and Education Network (MyREN) and my6 – which is a joint collaboration between Mimos Bhd (Jaring), NTT MSC Sdn Bhd and Maxis Communications Bhd. “I was told that TM Net is coming on board very soon,” he said. The proposed focus areas for IPv6 development that the committee will be looking at include training and human resource, particularly at pre- and post-graduate IPv6 course outline and syllabus; core research and development where standards, patents and copyrights on IPv6 will be set and created; and monitoring activities that include the monitoring and management of IPv6 address allocations. Also included are policies and migration assistance such as migratory consultation and advice, plus list and steps to migrate; IPv6 middleware development which includes identifying killer applications and key initiatives to promote IPv6 applications; and infrastructure where feedback, analysis, statistics and suggestions to current IPv6 network and infrastructures.