Nigerian Firms at the Outskirt of New Internet Protocol

Nigerian companies are conspicuously missing on the new Internet Protocol version 6, the latest version of the Internet Protocol, the communications protocol that provides an identification and location system for computers on networks and routes traffic across the Internet, according to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigations

As at June this year, only six internet networks in the country are using the new protocol out of the 104 Autonomous System Numbers coming from Nigeria.

The networks that are presently using the latest version of Internet protocol include, Globacom, IPNX, Internet Solution, Ngren, FBN Capital and MainOne.

These operators represent 5.88% of the number of networks that have acquired the Internet Protocol.

IPv6 is intended to replace IPv4, which still carries more than 96% of Internet traffic worldwide as of May 2014.

As of February 2014, the percentage of users reaching Google services over IPv6 surpassed 3% for the first time.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek however gathered that 32 networks made up of telecommunications operators, internet service providers, universities, banks, oil companies among other organisations have acquired IPv6 but have not deployed on it.

Mohammed Rudman, managing director, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, attributed this development to lack of technical know-how, core equipment compatibility issues, lack of IPv6 upstream service providers in the country and non-requests from end users among others.

He stated that for the use of IPv6 to grow in the country, there should be IPv6 awareness and capacity building through organizing seminars and trainings, incorporating IPv6 into university curriculum.

Also, the establishment of a National Internet Registry (NIR) to overlook the IP management issues in the country and to develop a ‘National IPv6 Roadmap’ to strategize the IPv6 transition.

Rudman cited China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) and Indian Registry for Internet Names and Numbers as example of countries that have toll that line.

He stressed the need to provide some profit incentives to Internet Industry for encouraging them to adopt IPv6 based Infrastructure. These incentives could include reduction in regulatory fee and tax rebates.

“Upstream Internet connectivity providers should be asked to enable IPv6 readiness in their networks. All new IT equipment supplied to Government should be IPv6 compliant and Government to set target date for MDAs to have IPv6 compliant networks,” he noted.

Rudman further explained that, IPv4 and IPv6 are not directly compatible. This means that network and content operators need to make their networks and websites available over both IPv4 and IPv6 for the foreseeable future so that everyone can access the Internet whether they are using an IPv4 or an IPv6 address to do so.