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On February 3, 2011 at 09:30 (Japan time: 23:30), IANA, which allocates IP addresses all over the world, announced that its entire inventory of IPv4 addresses had been depleted.
Based on the assumption that this would happen, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has so far moved ahead with support for the smooth introduction of Ipv6, and it will continue to promote the necessary initiatives.
Please note that all current ordinary end-users of IPv4 Internet connection services will not be directly affected by this latest development, so there is no need for support.
On February 3, 2011, IANA (see Note 3), which allocates IP addresses all over the world, announced that its entire inventory of IPv4 addresses had been depleted (IPv4 (see Note 2) is an extensively utilized format of Internet-suitable IP addresses (see Note 1) that are suitable as Internet addresses). Hereafter only IPv6 (see Note 4), the successor standard to IPv4, will be distributed, and Japanese telecommunications carriers are expected to find it difficult to obtain new IP addresses as of the middle of this year (see Note 5).
Based on the assumption that this would happen, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has conducted studies concerning smooth introduction policy for IPv6 via its “Research Society concerning Faster Internet Utilization through IPv6” and has moved ahead with support by constructing shared introduction promotion systems between government and people.
As a result of this, progress is being made with support focusing on major Internet connection businesses and access line businesses for essential Internet connection services to use IPv6, and a full-blown service is expected to be ready by this summer. In addition, progress can also be seen in that the preceding businesses have already completed support for data centers, etc.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) is continuing to request of Internet-related businesses the promotion of IPv6 support, and it will implement necessary initiatives to ensure that no Internet users suffer disadvantages.
Please note that all current ordinary end-users of IPv4 Internet connection services will not be directly affected by this latest development, so there is no need for support.
Note 1: IP addresses are Internet-based addresses. Specifically, IP addresses are allocated as identification numbers for all separate devices connecting to the Internet, which makes it possible for communications to be sent correctly from senders to recipients.
Note 2: IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4): This communication system is utilized as the main basic technology behind the Internet. Approximately 43 hundred million IP addresses can be allocated using IPv4.
Note 3: Internet Assigned Numbers Authority: This management source controls on a global scale the address resources used on the Internet.
Note 4: IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6): The successor to the IPv4 standard, with a practically infinite number of IP addresses (3.4 x 10 to the power of 38). Compared with IPv4 its features include enhanced security, simplification of all options, and so on.
Note 5: These estimations are correct as of the time of publication but are subject to change on a daily basis.
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For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on the website
http://www.soumu.go.jp/joho_tsusin/eng/contact.html
International Policy Division,
Global ICT Strategy Bureau, MIC
TEL: +81 3 5253 5374 / FAX: +81 3 5253 5924 |
