Wit h th e advent of new communic at ion and information technologies, the world has entered into a new era. We are witnessing an unprecedented historical moment where future-shaping technologies such as AI, 5G, cloud, IoT are emerging simultaneously.
A fundamental enabler lies at the core of all these technologies: IP address. It provides a "key" for devices to connect to the network, without which no communication can be carried out.
The previous protocol used for IP addressing was IPv4. It was designed in the early 1980s with a maximum total of only 4.3 billion addresses. The explosive growth of intelligent devices has exhausted the available IPv4 address resources, and IPv6 was introduced to solve this problem once and for all. With 3.8*10^38 total addresses available, IPv6 would be able to assign every grain of sand on earth an IP address.
However, IPv6 did not stop there. Related protocol innovations such as SRv6 are being currently standardized in IETF. They are denoted as IPv6+ in this whitepaper. Combined with AI, IPv6+ protocols go beyond enabling numerous connections to deliver high quality and smart connections.
IPv6 and IPv6+ enhance the deployment of advanced business applications like 5G, Cloud and Industrial IoT. They also provide the basis for the digitalization of all industries.
On a grander scheme, IPv6 and IPv6+ empower digital economy transformation, drive innovation and entrepreneurship, enhance social governance, and support digital equality. The ultimate transition
to IPv6 and IPv6+, and the associated long-term benefits of the new technologies are beyond any doubt. Over the past decade, multiple initiatives at both global and regional levels have been implemented, to facilitate a coordinated transition to IPv6 for the entire internet ecosystem. At this moment, we find it necessary to reflect on how the world has progressed in this transition and summarize the concrete socio-economic value IPv6 and IPv6+ have created.
We indexed each country's IPv6 deployment level and analyzed how government policies helped to shape the current IPv6 landscape. We performed quantitative analysis of the relationship between IPv6 deployment and national GDP. We estimated the economic impacts of IP v6 and IPv6+ on various industries.
Although our analyses and estimates may be subject to limitations in sample scope and size, the results are still strongly in favor of IPv6 deployment: Every 10% increase in IPv6 deployment index would bring about 0.4% GDP growth. Total industry value enabled by IPv6 and IPv6+ is estimated at $10.8 trillion in 2030.
In conclusion, now is the per fect time for IPv6 deployment. Industry-wide adoption of IPv6 has taken off. Major telecom operators, internet content providers, equipment manufac turers have all participated in the rush into a new digital world through IPv6 and IPv6+ adoption. Policy makers may encourage 'long-tail' actors in the industry ecosystem to follow. With a combination of polices targeting the public sector, private sector, skills development, awareness enhancing and overall strategy, governments will be able to drive country-wide IPv6 and IPv6+ adoption.