IPV6

• In view of the keen interest shown in the widespread availability of Internet-related resources and devices supported by the Internet Protocol and connected directly to the network, the issue of replacing Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) has become of fundamental importance, due to the depletion of these addresses and the global shifting to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6).


• Accordingly, the TRA, in partnership with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, has developed a clear and deliberate plan for a smooth transition to the IPv6 for the continued growth and stability of the Internet, as technologies such as the smart cities and the Internet of things (IoT) require the allocation of Internet addresses at an increasing rate more than ever.

The National IPv6 taskforce (OTFv6) consists of members from Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Ministry of Transport , Communication & Information Technology(MTCIT) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The OTFv6 also receives support from the vendors and academia.

Since the advent of IPv6, the Government of Sultanate of Oman has recognized the importance of deploying IPv6 in the country, and has taken an important step by forming the Oman IPv6 Task Force (OTFv6) to work with the TRA in the Sultanate. The main goal of OTFv6 is to give the initial push required by the industry to move on the road to IPv6 adoption. It was tasked to bring all the industry stakeholders to a common IPv6 platform countrywide. To increase awareness of IPv6 deployment, the OTFv6 published the IPv6 Guidelines document, the national IPv6 transition plan for transiting from IPv4 to IPv6. The OTFv6 carried out a number of activities under the umbrella of the TRA such as visiting entities from Public and the private sectors, conducting training programs on IPv6, sharing IPv6 best practices to the Government organizations, and releasing IPv6 monthly newsletters. As for IPv6 testing of equipment, and to ensure that all stakeholders perform the IPv6 journey in a coordinated and standardized manner, TRA has started developing an IPv6 test lab that is contributed by the telecom vendors for the benefit of stakeholders for getting their networking equipment tested for IPv6 readiness.

The objectives of the national IPv6 transition plan are summarized in the following:

These guidelines developed to help the corporates in their efforts to enable the IPv6 in their networks and services.
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• For external service test
• For performance test

Depending on which aspect is being measured, different methods are used to measure IPv6 penetration or deployment in different countries and regions. The most common indicators include prefixes announced on global routing tables (in proportion to IPv4), proportion of autonomous systems announcing IPv6 prefixes, content available over IPv6, and number of users who have native IPv6 or are IPv6-ready. The following is a list of websites that analyze the current status of IPv6 deployment from different points of view.