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IPv6 distribution


IPv6 cumulative distribution (number of /32 delegated)

With the inevitable depletion of IPv4, the Internet community recognizes that the steady adoption of IPv6-based networks is important to ensure the future success of the Internet.

Delegations of IPv6 address space are showing increased levels of commitment from network operators to deploy IPv6 networks. The graph on this page shows a levelling of growth from the IPv6 address size point of view. This is a direct result of the policies to reduce the end-site assignment from /48 to /56, and the change of the HD ratio, where Members can obtain additional IPv6 addresses, from 0.8 to 0.94

YearNumber of /56 subnets distributedIn this number of delegationsTo this number of MembersIn this number of economies
2003828,376,064512412
2004104,247,329,024572514
2005157,252,847,872513315
200654,123,299,328433015
200787,879,059,456635019
20082,432,714,75216410720
20092,950,776,75017515328
201054,375,079,42465244236
2011159,484,257,28062048333

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About IPv6

IPv6 is the next version of the Internet Protocol (IP) and uses a 128-bit address while IPv4 uses only 32 bits. The new address space thus supports 2128 or 3.4*1038. This provides a very large address space providing flexibility and the ability for the Internet to innovate and expand.

See also