IPv6 on DSL: the best way to develop always-on services

The deployment of IPv6 has become an issue of strategic importance for many economies, and telecom operators and ISPs play a key role in ensuring the availability of this new protocol on broadband access networks. It cannot be denied that the complexities exist in deploying IPv6 in an IPv4 world. Knowing this, telecom operators and ISPs have to ensure a viable transition strategy that takes into account transparent interoperability and mature integrated functionalities for deploying advanced applications on both IPv4 and IPv6. This potent combination will enable operators and ISPs to exploit the richer services offered by IPv6 while interoperating IPv4 during this long transition period, creating a new business model that will generate return on investment without waiting for the whole world to be fully IPv6 deployed. Only the use of IPv6 at the end-user site can drive differentiated services, achieving returns in not only investments, but also in services innovation and flexible communication solutions. So both IPv4 and IPv6 protocols have now to be implemented on digital subscriber line access networks. Solutions are mature and are beginning to be deployed.