Broadband Forum and IPv6 Forum to accelerate global activation of IPv6

ATLANTA, USA: The Broadband Forum and the IPv6 Forum announced their cooperative effort to empower the successful adoption of IPv6 in broadband deployments worldwide, creating the ecosystem that will ensure the continued success of the Internet as new applications and user expectations grow beyond the bounds of the IPv4 protocol. The two organizations are collaborating to incorporate Broadband Forum network and testing specifications into the IPv6 Forum’s Certification Program.

The Broadband Forum is a global consortium of around 200 member companies dedicated to the development of the full potential of broadband. The organization develops specifications for wireline broadband providers including IPv6 enabled end to end network architectures. The Broadband Forum gives special focus to interoperability and aspects of deployment such as integration into existing networks and migration strategies between technologies.

In March, the Broadband Forum launched its BroadbandSuite 4.0 release, specifications that enable the integration of the IPv6 protocol into existing network and remote management platforms. The release enables network support of IPv6 from core to user in fiber and DSL network deployments worldwide. It provides the capability for networks to scale to address practically limitless numbers of devices.

Future enhancements have the potential to enrich the user experience (supporting secure, mobile and nomadic applications) and enable the proliferation of connected user devices and machine-to-machine communications. Most importantly, this IPv6 toolkit helps service providers reduce the impact of IPv4 protocol exhaustion on their existing services while ensuring the growth of new users, devices and applications .

The IPv6 Forum’s aim is to drive the development of the IPv6 Ready Certification and Logo Program, bringing together the industry in order to deploy IPv6 on a large scale and ensure the interoperability of all devices. The organization’s IPv6 Ready CPE Test Plan draws on the IPv6 work of the Broadband Forum.

“BroadbandSuite 4.0 is already becoming a globally accepted reference on IPv6, ensuring that the industry can address the exponentially growing device and smart gateway requirements of next generation broadband,” said Christophe Alter, Broadband Forum’s Technical Chair. “The work delivered through BroadbandSuite 4.0 allows service providers to activate IPv6 in their networks today. The IPv6 Forum’s Certification Program will ensure interoperability, allowing the industry to deploy with confidence.”

Both organizations are actively supporting World IPv6 Day, the industry’s opportunity to test IPv6 activation on a world-wide scale, sponsored by the Internet Society. The event takes place on June 8th, 2011, and along with many other major organizations, the Broadband Forum will enable IPv6 support on its website and network. The goal of this 24 hour “Test Flight” is to motivate organizations across the industry, including Internet Service Providers, search engines, hardware makers, operating system vendors and web companies, to prepare for IPv6 traffic support to ensure a successful transition as IPv4 addresses run out.

“IPv6 represents the future of the Internet and the Broadband Forum’s work on standards and specifications is a great enabler. Working with the Broadband Forum allows us to ensure that our Certification Program meets the needs of the industry,” said Latif Ladid, IPv6 Forum President and Senior Researcher at University of Luxembourg, Security and Trust (SnT) Center, chairman of the EU IPv6 Task Force and Emeritus Trustee of the Internet Society, the organization that is running World IPv6 Day.