Gen-i launches IPv6 test laboratory on World IPv6 Day

Gen-i launches IPv6 test laboratory on World IPv6 Day

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 8 June 2011 – Gen-i has launched an IPv6 test laboratory in Auckland where businesses can test native IPv6 connectivity through Gen-i’s trial dual stack Gen-i Internet Service. The initiative is part of World IPv6 Day on Wednesday 8 June.

Gen-i is also hosting an IPv6 test site accessible through http://www.gen-i.co.nz/ or http://www.ipv6test.co.nz. This site is also registered with the World Internet Society’s website and will offer overseas businesses the opportunity to test the accessibility of a New Zealand IPv6 enabled site from their own IP address. The test site forms part of Gen-i’s IPv6 test laboratory and will help to provide shared learning about the performance of IPv6 over Gen-i’s services.

Gen-i’s Head of Cloud Infrastructure Services, Leanne Buer, says that moving to IPv6 involves complex technical and commercial challenges.

“While Gen-i’s IPv4 address range has capacity for growth, IPv6 will impact all businesses at some stage. Network equipment, PDAs, mobile devices and tablets will have IPv6 addressing in the future and will need to be connected to our clients’ business systems. Overseas suppliers and partners may run IPv6 networks or websites that local businesses need to access.

“However, there is also the opportunity for clients to simplify the management of their networks and move to a cleaner, more powerful and more efficient network architecture.”

Buer says that Gen-i’s focus is not only enabling technology, but enabling the end-to-end processes that support the use of this technology including people, systems delivery and ongoing service management.

“Our goal is to enable our clients to take advantage of the benefits of IPv6, ensuring seamless and transparent access to their offices, partners and providers here in New Zealand and globally through the use of our IPv6-enabled infrastructure services.”

Buer says Gen-i is enabling IPv6 capability within its own network product suite, including Gen-i Internet Service and Gen-i WAN Service.

“We’re working on a number of projects to advance our own IPv6 capability including building our internal skill base and knowledge as well as ensuring IPv6 capability is included in all new product designs.”

“We’re helping our clients take advantages of benefits of IPv6 by providing them with services such as IPv6 training through Auldhouse and audits of client systems and business requirements by our design and professional services team.

“World IPv6 Day is about raising awareness of what IPv6 is and what businesses need to do to be ready to move and we’re pleased to support that initiative.”

Telecom is running a native IPv6 international Internet peering and transit network to better understand the architectural and operational implications of the new protocol and has been drawing on Gen-i’s IPv6 experience with business clients.

About IPv6

IPv6 is the next generation Internet Protocol (IP) address standard intended to supplement, and eventually replace, the IPv4 protocol most Internet services use today.

IPv6 is designed to provide benefits not possible with IPv4 such as a virtually unlimited address space, embedded security, hierarchical network architecture, auto-configuration, multi casting and plug and play support. Its use will also expand the capabilities of the Internet, in particular building on mobility use.

While the technical basis of IPv6 is well established, there is still much work to be done to deploy this protocol globally and begin using IPv6 capabilities in a business environment.

About Gen-i Gen-i is at the forefront of helping customers take advantage of the convergence of technology and telecommunications, and the new opportunities this makes possible. Gen-i works alongside its 3,300 corporate, government and business customers to deliver seamless and integrated ICT solutions. A member of the Telecom New Zealand Group, Gen-i achieves this with the support of 3,000 highly skilled people in 15 locations across New Zealand and Australia. For more information on Gen-i, visit http://www.gen-i.co.nz

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