Currently, Internet Protocol v4 (IPv4) is the predominant protocol. This version of the protocol was the one that saw the birth of the Internet and since then it has been used without interruption. However, given the limitations of this, the Internet protocol version 6 or IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6, in English), an updated version of the Internet protocol, comes into play.
If you are a Movistar customer, you can now try IPv6. The operator has been a pioneer in Spain in addressing the Internet traffic of its mobile users with IPv6. Currently, we have a total of 600,000 accesses over IPv6 and the deployment is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2023.
How to know if you already have it
The number of IPv4 addresses (which would be like the telephone number that identifies the user) ran out in 2012 and more addresses are needed for more users to connect. To do this, the new IPv6 protocol incorporates a higher number of bits (128 instead of the 32 of IPv4), allowing a much larger number of addresses and therefore users.
You can find out if your Internet connection meets the necessary requirements to have IPv6 and find out if you are accessing content with IPv4 or IPv6 in different ways. One of the most useful is to access the website test-ipv6.comwhich checks the use of IPv6 addressing through a series of parameters such as Internet Service Provider (ISP), DNS server, etc.
In addition to this web page with information of interest, Google has also wanted to give users a tool so that they can check if their connection systems are optimized for the new IPv6 protocol. Users only have to access http://ipv6test.google.com/ and you will automatically know if your connection is valid for IPv6.
Try Movistar’s IPv6
After this first implementation of IPv6 for mobile Internet connection users, the Telefónica operator is looking for users to test it over broadband. If you are a client of the blue operator, you can join the beta program and try the new protocol before the rest of the clients.
«The beta consists of activating the IPv6 protocol in the ADSL/FTTH connection, allowing Internet communications to be established with destinations that use this protocol. It is not necessary to make any type of equipment or configuration change. Devices such as computers, tablets, mobiles, etc. They will use the IPv6 protocol transparently to the user, without having to make any changes, and they will communicate with destinations that also have IPv6 support using this protocol, and if they do not have support, they will use IPv4, as up to now. The new version of the protocol also includes new security measures, auto-configuration and other advantages. The beta is to make normal use of the Internet connection and see if any communication that works correctly in IPv4 has problems after enabling IPv6.
With the update of the IPv4 protocol to IPv6, a series of improvements will be achieved that influence many aspects such as security, simplicity when joining a network, etc. Your contribution of a greater number of addresses will make it possible for the Internet to grow and will allow, for example, the further development of the Internet of Things (IoT). Get ahead of the future and try it if you are a Movistar customer.
