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Uecomm Goes Live with Australia's First Commercial IPv6 Network
In an Australian first, Uecomm Limited and Ericsson Australia have deployed a commercial Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) network across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. This multi million dollar supply agreement with Uecomm is a landmark in the Australian communications market for Ericsson.
Ericsson is the first vendor to provide commercially available Internet switches based on new generation Internet standards, commonly referred to as IPv6. The Ericsson AXI 462 switch, a dual IPv4/IPv6 product, inter-operates with IPv4 systems as well as IPv6, the new generation Internet.
IPv6 is important to ensure the expected demands of Quality of Service for combined voice, multimedia, and data traffic, as well as security are met in next generation networks. IPv6 also provides these networks with an ability to handle the large number of IP enabled devices predicted when the Mobile Internet becomes commonplace.
Uecomm will be able to offer different types of access (eg. ATM, Frame Relay and Ethernet) using the same basic network element – the Ericsson AXI 462 switch. This will give customers choice of access and the flexibility to change if required.
Datacomms leaders
Uecomm plans to install more than 70 switches by the first quarter 2001 to cover networks in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
“With the new IPv6 rollout, Uecomm has increased the flexibility of our network in Australia” said Keith Ondarchie, Chief Executive Officer. “Ericsson has been instrumental in providing this leadership for Uecomm and I am very excited about our co-operation”.
As part of the deal, Ericsson Australia will also provide Uecomm with a series of managed services including network monitoring and complete support provision.
“Ericsson is a global leader in the provision of data communications networks, said Rob Hacker, Ericsson Australia’s Director, New Business Ventures, “. By designing and implementing Australia’s first IPv6 network with Uecomm, Ericsson has again demonstrated our leadership in the Australian datacomms market, further strengthening our position.”
Uecomm is currently providing data communications services to several of Australia’s major carriers, including Vodafone, OneTel and AAPT as well as Coles Myer and ANZ.
Why Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6)?
Most experts agree that IP addresses will run out some time in the next 1 - 2 years. The growing number of users who want to use mobile phones and other devices to connect to the Internet is rapidly exhausting the number of available IP addresses.
IPv6, with its 128-bit address base, enables more Internet Protocol addresses to meet the needs of the growing device market, including: PDAs, handsets, notebooks and video cameras, both for fixed and wireless services.
The IPv6 addressing scheme is the foundation for users to always be connected to the Internet, whether at work, at home or travelling. Users will no longer need to connect and disconnect from the network. As the user moves from network to network, IPv6 makes sure the connection is maintained and optimised. It also provides enhanced mobility for users and improved security to facilitate e-commerce transactions.
