RIPE NCC event to discuss future of regional internet

The RIPE NCC (Network Coordination Centre) – an independent organisation that supports Internet infrastructure for Europe, the Middle East and parts of Central Asia, is holding its first ever IP networking event in Dubai this week.

RIPE 57, which starts today, brings together Middle East ISPs, telecommunications providers, government organisations and educational institutions to discuss strategies for the future development of Internet infrastructure in the region.

One of the main topics on the agenda at the event, which runs until 30th October, is the transition from Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) to version 6 (IPv6). IPv6 is intended to improve on version 4 of the domain name system, by allowing much larger addresses and extensibility.

As the internet becomes more and more pervasive, so the requirements for internet addresses has grown exponentially, and IPv6 will accommodate the need for more and more IP addresses.

Axel Pawlik, managing director of the RIPE NCC said: “RIPE Meetings play a key role in the development of the Internet and the way it’s managed and structured. Continued success of the Internet in the Middle East will depend on free availability of IP address space. Failure to adopt these new resources could mean a slowdown in the pace of Internet innovation.”Abdulla Hashim, VP of Enterprise Solutions for Etisalat, the hosts of the event, added: “There is a huge need for IPv6 deployment across the Middle East in order to protect and ensure the healthy, fast-paced development of the Internet economy and the future of IP networks. It would be short-sighted not to see the development of world class Internet infrastructure as a key for the region’s success in a global economy.

“Etisalat has been at the forefront of development of IPv6 in the Middle East and was the first in the region to obtain IPv6 allocation from RIPE. We’ve made significant progress in establishing peering with GCC providers in addition to establishing IPv6 testing network with educational institutes in the UAE. This meeting will provide a great opportunity to network and evaluate progress on IPv6 with our peers across the region,” Hashim said.