Advocating Next Generation Internet Technology

Since 2009, the BCNET network has been IPv6-enabled (Internet Protocol version 6), supporting researchers in their quest to share data, participate in international experiments and collaborate with their IPv6-enabled peers around the world.

As more countries and websites become IPv6-ready, it is essential for Canadian universities to get on board, so that networks around the world can “talk” to each other and research collaboration can go on. In addition, IPv6 has a vastly larger address space and can accommodate the demand and growth of the Internet.

IPv6 Workshops

BCNET leads IPv6 workshops in an effort to help B.C.’s universities and other Canadian institutes become IPv6-ready and to promote and support IPv6 awareness and training. An online IPv6 Community Lab was developed as a test-bed for Canadian institutions to get hands-on experience.

What is IPv6?

Internet usage has grown exponentially, since its inception, over 30 years ago. The address space offered by Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) seemed unlimited, allowing almost 4 billion addresses for connected devices.

Now, thirty years later, with millions upon millions of Internet users, the end of available addresses is looming. Once all the addresses are assigned, then, no new device can be attached to the Internet.

IPv6 is the new Internet Protocol that allows for trillions of address spaces, much larger than its predecessor, IPv4. IPv6 has the added benefit of greater security and capabilities for verifying addresses, and trust between routers.