Mobile operators and service providers increasingly rely on IP-based data service offerings for their revenue base. Meanwhile, both fixed and mobile broadband traffic has exploded with Web 2.0, IoT, video and social media driving an increased user demand.
Starting with today’s fixed networks, they serve more than 500 Million subscribers today and the networks are optimized on cost per bit to be able to handle large amount of data from each user. Moreover, mobile networks serve more than 5 Billion subscribers already today and services are more personalized with networks optimized to handle a large subscriber base.
Although IPv6 has many benefits over IPv4, operators are reluctant to do the transition since the technology is more “disruptive” than plug-and-play. The depletion of IPv4 address space is being addressed with investing on CGNAT, instead.
The Solution
ARKİTEK’s IPv6 Migration service offers operators a way to smoothly introduce IPv6 into the network, starting by identifying the delta between the current status of your network and your wanted position, defining a transition strategy and impact analysis, planning the migration and finally, in a step-wise approach, enabling new IPv6-based services as required by your business.
A successful transition from an IPv4-based network to native IPv6 is one in which IPv6 elements are incorporated into the network, while, at the same time, compatibility is maintained with the pre-existing IP infrastructure. Thus, for some time to come, we recognize the fact that IPv6 devices must interact and function with the existing ones.
The subscribers will expect a service experience that is as good as or better than the IPv4-based services and will not expect any service disruptions. The user will also expect a range of terminals to choose from and simple or no additional configuration in order to start using the services.
The ideal is that the user does not need to be aware of the IP version, putting requirements on applications and operating system’s ability to choose and use the IP version as needed.
Therefore, coexistence techniques are required, especially when most users are on IPv6 and some services have remained on IPv4. For mobile users, a user can mainly use IPv6 in the operator home network and revert to IPv4 in visited networks if needed.
The benefits of this phased introduction of IPv6 to operators are:
- Smooth introduction of IPv6 into operator’s network and enablement of new IPv6-based services as required by operator’s business
- Stepwise approach allowing operator’s to gain experience and competence gradually
- Cost-effective deployment reducing both risk and the cost of implementation.