Telstra HomeAbout TelstraMedia CentreAnnouncements Telstra provides IPv6 to business customer networks

Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) connectivity is now available to even more Telstra business, enterprise and government customers. IPv6 is the next generation of internet addresses, offering new, longer IP addresses to overcome the impending shortage of current IPv4 addresses globally.

Telstra's IP Virtual Private Network (IP VPN) solutions are now capable of supporting IPv6. This means that Telstra's medium and large business network customers join our enterprise, government and wholesale Internet customers in their ability to opt-into IPv6 connectivity.

Director Transport and Routing Engineering, Mr David Robertson said that the deployment of IPv6 in Telstra's IP VPN follows the availability of IPv6 for our Telstra Internet Direct service in September 2011.

"We have a long-term roadmap for deploying IPv6 capability into our networks, and are pleased that many of our business customers can use this new service to support the transition of their corporate networks to IPv6. The deployment of IPv6 into Telstra's network is an on-going program of work, and we'll make this available for other services such as DSL and our wireless networks over time.

"As stocks of IPv4 addresses diminish globally, we need to commence moving to the new addressing system. By dual stacking IPv4 and IPv6 in our network, customers can opt into IPv6 in their own time, and according to the lifecycle upgrade of their existing equipment. In many ways it can be thought of as living in your old home while your new home is being built. When customers are ready to make the move to IPv6 we'll be there to help them," said Mr Robertson.

Telstra will be working with individual customers who have expressed an interest in moving to IPv6 to help them through that transition.

"In coming years we expect that IPv6 will become the norm and customers will need to opt-out if they wish to use IPv4. However in the early phases of the transition, we'll be working directly with customers to support them as they make this change," said Mr Robertson.

Telstra is still one of the first Australasian network service providers to invest in scalable IPv6 capability across key Data and IP Solutions for the enterprise market.

Media Contact:
Craig Middleton
Mobile: 0400 931 772

Reference Number: 060 / 2012