We, in BT, continue to manage efficiently our allocation of IPv4 address space and are also taking the necessary steps to manage a transition to IPv6. We are committed to the development and support of IPv6 on our networks and services and have a programme of investment in our network and systems over the next few years.
During 2012/13, we will be working to deliver on our plans for full introduction of IPv6 to our Global and UK platforms, including hardware and system upgrades.
VPN Services
We have established the network architecture that allows both IPv4 and IPv6 to coexist at the network edge.
In parallel we are implementing the design and development of VPN service and process supporting the integration of IPv6 into your VPNs.
Please note that it is possible to support IPv6 today across the current BT MPLS VPN platform. The BT MPLS network allows you to use different tunnelling encapsulation techniques to carry their IPv6 traffic point to point or point to multi-point.
Internet Services
Our commitment to developing IPv6 into a technical and commercial success and remaining at the forefront of IP based services has led us to run a customer based global IPv6 Internet Access trial for the past 2 years.
During 2012 and 2013, the platforms supporting our BT Internet Connect UK and BT Internet Connect Global services will continue to progressively deploy dual-stack capability with plans to launch full standardised IPv6 in the first half of 2012/13.
While IPv4 and IPv6 capabilities co-exist at the network edge you will be able to use both protocols and implement your own transition plans without the risk and expense of a big bang approach. IPv6 support will be native though, as with VPN services, so if you wish to gain early experience with IPv6 you could start now using tunnelling or translation techniques to carry your IPv6 traffic point to point or point to multi-point.
BT IPv6 links