Deploying IPv6 in Broadband Access Networks

FOREWORD

The Internet is becoming a utility with an estimated 1.5 billion users, commonly referred to as "netizens," around the world. This large user base is surpassed only by the 3.5 billion mobile (cell) phone users on the planet. Approximately 10% of cell phones in use today are "smart phones," which also provide Internet services. The Internet backbone is quite robust; however, the last mile of the access layer is made up of a fragmented delivery system ranging from very low speed to high-speed (1 Gbps) connections. To put things in perspective, a 1-Gbps connection will allow downloading of a James Bond movie in about 20 seconds. High-speed download allows better use of Internet resources than does live streaming, which is resource intensive due to time constraints on packet delivery and reordering.

Broadband provides the Internet with an opportunity to become a robust utility similar to the TV networks. It is interesting to note that TV networks were designed with enough capacity to match viewer expectations for quality of experience. The next stage in the evolution of broadband access is to move from asymmetric to symmetric provisioning, thus allowing consumers to download and upload at the same speed. IPv6 provides a large address capacity and will be ideal for a commodity addressing scheme that will enable two-way always-on, Internet services. This scenario will signify the most important shift in adoption of the Internet, by empowering users to become "full-time residents" ...