The internet may run out of IPv4 addresses within a year

It seems that every new electronic device we purchase these days has internet connectivity to satiate consumer demand to be constantly connected on every platform. Unfortunately, all of this connectivity could have the world running out of IP addresses within a year, according to experts.

The current internet protocol, IPv4, allows for approximately four billion unique 32-digit IP addresses around the world. IPv6, a new internet protocol version which would allow for 128-digit addresses, has been in development for over ten years, but mainstream implementation of the technology has been slow.

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"When the IPv4 protocol was developed 30 years ago, it seemed to be a reasonable attempt at providing enough addresses. Bearing in mind that at that point personal computers didn't really exist, the idea that mobile phones might want an IP address hadn't occurred to anybody because mobile phones hadn't been invented [and] the idea that air-conditioners and refrigerators might want them was utterly ludicrous," explained John Lindsay, manager for carrier relations at Australian ISP Internode.

IPv6 implementation would solve the internet over-crowding issues by creating enough IP addresses to give every person in the world more than four billion addresses each. While this will certainly be more than enough to sustain further growth for several years, experts warn that we could soon suffer the consequences of adopting the technology too slowly.

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While major companies, such as Verizon, Comcast, Google, and Facebook have already at least partially adopted the technology, widespread implementation of IPv6 has been resisted up to this point because every device with an IP address will need to be reconfigured or upgraded. In some cases, software of firmware upgrades may not be enough, and the hardware will need to be completely replaced.

What will happen when the IPv4 addresses run out? Experts are predicting a wide range of scenarios, from possible internet blackouts to an emerging “black market” for IP addresses. While some are pushing the dire consequences, others are remaining optimistic and believe that providers will swing into action with IPv6 in time to avoid major issues.

I just hope that the transition can be solved for the majority of devices with software and firmware upgrades. After looking around and counting every device in my home that requires an IP address, I realize that replacing every one would be a very costly endeavor.

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