RIPE NCC and ITU Push Global IPv6 Adoption to Bridge Connectivity Gaps

Introduction

On March 20, 2025, two major Internet governance bodies—RIPE NCC and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)—announced a new collaboration to promote and fast-track adoption of IPv6 globally. With IPv4 addresses exhausted in many regions, the move intends to ensure global connectivity, future-proof network infrastructure, and support the growing demands of IoT, 5G, and beyond.

Key Points

• Address Shortage: IPv4 exhaustion has led to inefficiencies, NAT overload, and limited scalability in many emerging markets.
• Joint Declaration: RIPE NCC and ITU commit to advocacy, training, and technical support for under-resourced regions.
• Infrastructure Investment: Emphasis will be placed on upgrading legacy systems and encouraging Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to enable IPv6 by default.
• IoT & 5G Readiness: IPv6 is essential for large-scale IoT deployments and the full potential of 5G networks, enabling better device addressing and less intermediary translation.

How To

1. ISPs should audit their current network stack to find legacy systems that still depend only on IPv4.
2. Apply dual-stack configuration where possible, allowing both IPv4 and IPv6 in parallel during transition.
3. Participate in training programs or workshops offered by networks such as RIPE NCC or national/regional bodies.
4. Deploy monitoring to catch broken IPv6 connectivity early, ensuring fallback paths for users until full IPv6 is stable.

Conclusion

The joint campaign by RIPE NCC and ITU could be a turning point in large-scale global connectivity. By emphasizing IPv6 adoption now, we avoid compounding technical debt and unlock a more scalable, secure, and future-ready Internet infrastructure. Entities that lead the transition can gain operational advantages and better enable emerging technologies in coming years.