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Internet Protocol Version  6 (IPv6) is the latest version of IP, designed to be  a step up from IPv4. The  IPv6 has been designed to  create many times more  addresses than the present  IPv4 system.

Why is IPv6 necessary? Yes, because IPv4 is out of IP addresses. IPv4 has only 4.3 billion addresses, and with more devices getting connect- ed to Internet every day, we have tapped the system dry. IPv6 uses a 128-bit address and can store up to 340 undecillion addresses.

Why is the internet running out of room? Just like mobile phones require a phone number in order to make calls, every Internet connected device requires a unique number known as an “IP address” that connects it to the global online network. The problem is IPv4 has room for only four billion addresses which is not enough for the rapidly growing world population and devices that are going online. As IPv4 runs out of free addresses, everyone will need to share addresses.

IPv6 can create over 18 trillion addresses. And with this num- ber, currently every human being on the planet can be assigned around 3,000 dedicated IPs each. Many consider IPv6 a mobile technology as it includes sup- port for users who roam among different networks, with global notifications when you leave one network and enter another one.

Google’s take on the transi- tion from IPV4 to IPv6 – “We believe IPv6 is essential to the continued health and growth of the Internet and that by allowing all devices to talk to each other directly, IPv6 enables new innovative services. Replacing the Internet’s plumbing will take some time but the transition has begun.”

According to mathematicians IPv6 is capable of delivering - 340,300,000,000,0 00,000,000,000,000,000,000,00 0,000,000, that’s above three hundred and forty duodecillion IPs.