Botswana Telecommunication Authority (BTA) is preparing to introduce a new and expanded internet network, following fears that internet users in this country and the continent could face difficulties in accessing content on the internet.
The Director of BTA Technical Services Department, Bathopi Luke, has indicated that the current version of internet networks, known as Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), is facing depletion due to different pressures such as rapid growth of technology and fast growth of the internet in some parts of the world. He said (IPv4) is used to facilitate communication between Africa, including Botswana, and the rest of the world.
“It is true that IPv4 could be adequate for a while, especially in the Africa Region, but as the world is moving to IPv6, neither the country or the continent need not be left behind, otherwise there is a risk of us being isolated from the rest of the world by not being able to access some internet content available only on IPv6,” he said.
He noted that in some regions IPv4, “was exhausted in February 2011, hence the need to act fast to transit to the next version called IPv6”.
He added that those running on purely IPv4 will miss out on the services which are only designed for IPv6.
“IPv6 has a large address space, more efficient routing, plug and play for ease of management, enhanced mobility, better security and prioritized delivery compared to IPv4. Transition will, therefore, ensure that internet is given more room for growth,” said Luke.
The Director indicated that in this country, preparations are on-going in terms of testing and deploying IPv6 networks and a decision was made at the ICT-Sub High level consultative council to engage all the stakeholders to discus and map the way forward on how to implement the transition.
He said all the stakeholders in the country are expected to agree on the appropriate roadmap and migration strategy suitable for Botswana, to ensure uniform transition alongside with the much needed skills transfer.
“Botswana Information Technology Society (BITS) has also organised some local training workshops on IPv6 in conjunction with AfriNIC of which different individuals from ISPs and ICT companies were trained on IPv6 as a way of preparing for the transition,” he said.
He said as IPv6 is imminent, it is important that organisations prepare their networks to be IPv6 ready hence be able to accommodate the transition. He explained that this involves purchasing equipment that is IPv6 compliant.
“It also applies to end users.”
Luke said internet protocols which are used to identify each device connected to the internet for communication worldwide are allocated to the respective world regions by Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). He added that they are subsequently re-assigned to users through Internet Service Providers (ISP).
