© AfriNIC – 2005-2008

IPv6 in AfricaIPv6 in AfricaHow Africa is preparing for IPv6How Africa is preparing for IPv6

Adiel A. Akplogan

CEO, AfriNIC

iWeek, Johannesburg, 18 September 2008

Content

Challenges

Initiatives to overcome some of the challenges

Achievement

Way forward

Conclusion

The transition from IPv4 to IPv6

Denial

Anger

Negotiation

Depression

Acceptance

Different stages of grief for transition

v6/V4 Ratio

0

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

0.025

0.03

0.035

0.04

Nov-07 Jan-08 Feb-08 Apr-08 Jun-08 Jul-08 Sep-08 Oct-08

Ra

tio

Ratio

Acceptance ???

AfriNIC-8/AfNOG Meeting

2004 2006 20080.0%

0.6%

1.2%

www.afrinic.net

Graph: Geoff Huston - Measuring IPv6 Deployment

IPv4 vs. IPv6 Traffic on AfriNIC web site

0

5000000

10000000

15000000

20000000

25000000

30000000

35000000

40000000

Dec-07 Feb-08 Feb-08 Mar-08 Apr-08 May-08 Jun-08 Jul-08 Aug-08 Sep-08

Month

IPv4

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

300000

350000

IPv6

v4

v6

What was planned 10 years ago?

IPv6 Deployment

IPv4 Pool Size

Size of the Internet

IPv6 Transition using Dual Stack

Time

6 - 10 years2000

2006-2010

What is happening today?

IPv6 Deployment

IPv4 PoolSize

Size of the Internet

IPv6 Transition

Today

Time

?

Few challenges for IPv6 in Africa IPv6 adoption is an important challenge

worldwide but more importantly in our region:

◦ Perception of lack of demand from the users “Lack of end-users applications”

◦ Perception of huge costs related to transitioning◦ Lack of awareness on real IPv6 development cases◦ Lack of transparent compatibility with IPv4◦ Passiveness regarding IP issues in our community◦ People are still straggling to properly deploy IPv4

Networks: Too extensive usage of NAT in the region

Killer application?

IPv6 is NOT a feature! While everyone wants a source of additional revenue, “fundamental transport is difficult to monetize” (Tony Hain – Cisco System)).

◦ Carriers use IPv6 deployment cost as a defensive play but the reality is that they will still have to absorb the costs of an IPv4 routing system (that will be growing unconstrained once the central pool is gone and addresses may started to be traded) … and this until they can get their customers to leave IPv4 behind.

◦ Revenue generating applications are most likely to be peer-to-peer, because client-server can be hacked in using nat.

Or Killer constraint?

Google Maps opens ~ 70 parallel connections

iTunes store has been shown to open as many as 300 parallel connections

New apps that have not emerged yet ???

◦ IPv4/nat multiplexes multiple users through the port range, so 64k divided by 300 parallel connections results in ~200 customers per ISP based nat address (assuming each customer is only allowed to run one simultaneous instance of iTunes or similar apps).

Cost of deployment The largest cost for most network managers will be training.

◦ It is packet based (IP), but other than that it is a different protocol.

Another major cost will be retooling custom apps and scripts.

◦ Frequent shortcuts assuming an address will always be 32 bits.

Is IPv6 deployment could be seen as an opportunity to integrate other engineering changes that have not been large enough to justify by themselves?

◦ What costs will be attributed to IPv6 vs. general evolution?

Africa & IPv6 As requested by the community during AfriNIC-2 meeting

(Maputo), the project aims to create an environment which favors smooth transition to IPv6 in Africa through: ◦ Creation of an environment which allows exchange within IPv6

initiatives throughout the Continent. (afripv6-discuss@afrinic.net)

◦ Creation of an IPv6 Forum for Africa. (3rd during AfriNIC-9)◦ Conducting IPv6 Training across the Continent.◦ Providing Lab and Internships to Engineers to play live with IPv6◦ Supporting research based on IPv6 and Mobile Infrastructure◦ Creation of an IPv6 ready platform to offer v6 support to the

community (IPV6 ready at IXP to offer tunnels).◦ Bringing major African connectivity/content providers to the

game by encouraging them to provide v6 ready services.◦ Developing a case study documentation for the use of African

operators (based on local experiences).

Africa & IPv6 (con’t) We have identified in 2005 that training is one of

the key factors that will support IPv6 deployment.

◦ More than 35 trainings conducted in different 30 countries throughout Africa (1-3 day events)

Policy proposal to ease IPv6 allocation in our region has been proposed and adopted by the community in 2006.

◦ No need to justify 200 end-users allocation to get IPv6 addresses.◦ Waived any additional fee for IPv6 allocations.◦ Integrate ‘IPv6’ into AfriNIC training program.

End User assignment Policy proposed and adopted in 2007

Africa & IPv6 (con’t)

◦ Annual AfrIPv6 meeting back-to-back with AfriNIC Spring meetings (December 2005, Nov’2006, Sept’2007, Nov’2008)

IPv6+LIR Training

Plan for 2008

Plan for 2009

1

52

Result: IPv6 allocation

growth

From these allocations, only 33% are announced and visible in the global routing table.(46% in AP, 33.6% in ARIN, 32% in LAC, 49% RIPE)

There is a clear need for further assistance to deploy.

IPv6 Allocation Growth (x /32)

5262

444138

2 4 4 511

19 22 24 26 31

010203040506070

ZA, 26

KE, 6

EG, 4

MU, 4 TZ, 3CI, 2

MA, 2

DJ, 1

DZ, 1

GH, 1

ML, 1

NG, 1

RW, 1

SC, 1SD, 1

AO, 1

BJ, 1

CM, 1

ZW, 1

TN, 1

Other, 16

SZ, 1SN, 1

MZ, 1

So how Africa is preparing for IPv6?

◦ Very slowly◦ Following the trend of the rest of the world◦ Trying to understand what is on stake

We need to◦ Push for more action from Operators (Train, Plan and implement Dual-

stack, allow user to access v6 network)◦ Be innovative and explore the opportunity of developing application

that can directly benefit from IPv6 and its “features”.◦ Involve Research and Education community into the game.

Governments need to lead by making sure: their own internet‐based services are IPv6‐ready (early

adopters) The public is aware and educated on the transition Appropriate policies are developed to foster national transition

to IPv6

…. Education seems to be the critical part of this long Education seems to be the critical part of this long journeyjourney

Conclusion

IPv6 is an opportunity for Africa (innovation and sustainable growth)

With our initiatives we hope to make Operators in Africa not be the one who are always catching up with other.

We would like to bring this campaign to another level and create an environment for an exchange of information, training, and for sharing best practices.

Having our own Regional Internet Number Registry, we have the opportunity to define policies and plans that will help IPv6 adoption and support a sustainable Internet growth in Africa

Thank Thank youyou