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[rpd] IPv6 as a criteria in IPv4 Soft Landing AFPUB-2026-v6-001-DRAFT01.

jordi.palet at consulintel.es jordi.palet at consulintel.es
Mon Jul 6 10:12:30 UTC 2026 

Normally, if you deploy IPv6 in a mobile network, the % of traffic can move “almost” overnight from 0 to 60-70 or even up to 85%, unless you are turning on very slowly by regions or customer groups and so on.

In a deployment you typically do some “labs”, then move it to production with some experience users, then you start a massive deployment in a specific region/user group, and if everything is right, you jump to the rest of the network. Once you started, this should not take more than 6 months. Some people may prefer to go at a slower pace, but generally it doesn’t make sense once you have done the 1st big region/users group. It may happen that you have 50/50% traffic in between mobile and residential, etc. and you only start with mobile. As said, you need to know some details from inside the network.

A good example is precisely the 1st massive IPv6 deployment in the world (T-Mobile) with started with NAT64 in production in 2015, then with 464XLAT. They jump from 2-3% IPv6 in 2015 to 80% in 6 months, corrected something in the network, then has been over 92% since 2018 till now.

https://stats.labs.apnic.net/ipv6/AS21928?c=US&p=1&v=1&w=30&x=1

This can be observed in other deployments in many countries, but sometimes, if it is is a mix cellular, residential, business network, is difficult to appreciate what traffic belongs to each part, unless you know some data from people working in that network.

Of course, if your customers have cell phones older than 12-13 years ago, that will not happen, but I don’t think generally people have so old phones. That’s when IPv6 was available in cell phones.



> El 6 jul 2026, a las 11:49, Darwin Da Costa <dc at darwincosta.com> escribió:
> 
> 
> 
>> On 6. Jul 2026, at 11:06, jordi.palet--- via RPD <rpd at afrinic.net> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Darwin,
> Hi Jordi,
>> 
>> In Angola, according to APNIC, UNITEL, Paragus and Neonet, have 25-33% IPv6. Not good, something may be broken there.
> It depends on how you look into it. Again, 2019 was 0% while in 2026 a movement is happening. Obviously the speed will always depend on their (networks) priorities. Our job is to push them and guide them. 
>> 
>> Of course, without knowing the exact details of those networks and how IPv6 has been deployed, I can only speculate, but based in my experience, I can point to some aspects:
>> 
>> 1) If it is a mobile network, are they using dual-stack (even with IPv4 private addresses behind CGN) or 464XLAT?
>> 2) Are they monitoring IPv4 and IPv6 at the upstreams and the rest of the network. Bad quality IPv6 transits or peering may bring HE to fallback to IPv4.
>> 3) Are they using a single APN (right way to go)? Have they done test with iOS/Apple and signed the contract to provide the updated operator-profile for dual-stack or IPv6-only and to enable CLAT for the tethering?
>> 4) Have they measured the top-n (I will suggest top-25) traffic destinations?
>> 5) Are they taking advantage of Caches/CDNs, with need to be updated to support also IPv6?
>> 6) How are they doing the Pref64 discovery or it is manually configured? How they provision and what lenght, the IPv6 prefix?
>> 7) If they customer base is mainly residential, what transition technology and how is it configured at the CEs. Do they allow customers to replace the CEs and they support “any” or only certified ones?
>> 8) Marketing actions: In some cases, during many years, specially some game companies suggested to disable IPv6 in Windows. They had bugs and the easy way was “IPv6 is the guilty”. When you deploy IPv6 you need to ask customers to revert that. Same for un-updated Android and iOS phones, you need to tell customer to keep them updated, in some Android cases, if you don’t do that, you need to offer some free bonus to customers to tell them “you get “n” extra free gigs” if you enable IPv6 in your config. Unfortunately this doesn’t work for iOS, the only way is to engage with your Apple liaison.
>> 
>> This is just an example of many things that you don’t learn in trainings, just over deployment experience. Some of them are very simple, some others really need to be updated to each specific network case. Some of them are related only to mobile or wireline, some apply to both.
>> 
>> If you have direct contact with those operators and they are interested in having an email exchange or a call to see how we can increase the IPv6 traffic looking at how the deployment has been done, let me know in pvt. I will be happy to support them at a minimum with some free tips. We could take that as a deployment case and ask them to present in the next AIS, to demonstrate how things can change.
> Sure and agree with the operational points you have shared. Will do some intros and hopefully bringing them over to one of the AIS in the future.
> 
> 
>> 
>> Regards,
>> Jordi
>> 
>> @jordipalet
> 
> Cheers!
> Darwin/.
> 
> 
>> 
>>> El 5 jul 2026, a las 14:03, dc at darwincosta.com escribió:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On 5 Jul 2026, at 12:29, Bope Domilongo Christian <christianbope at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Sun, 28 Jun 2026 at 11:16, jordi.palet--- via RPD <rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>> wrote:
>>>>> Fortunately, deploying 464XLAT in mobile networks (the only way to go) is much easier and cheaper than in wireline. Vendors of both UEs and packet switch mobile networks support it very well since many years ago. The point, as usual, is to have the expertise and not trust what vendors try to sell you.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Is not just a matter of teaching IPv6. In a training you don’t get the experience. There is a good reason why consultancy companies have a business: it is much cheaper to trust an experienced consultant (vendor independent) than a vendor and you avoid all the mistakes of lack of experience.
>>>> 
>>>> Hi Jordi,
>>>> 
>>>> 464XLAT is indeed well supported in mobile networks, but saying the main barrier is “lack of experience” doesn’t match the data. If experience were the decisive factor, operators in high‑GDP countries like Spain and Italy — with large engineering teams and easy access to consultants — wouldn’t be lagging in APNIC Labs measurements ( https://stats.labs.apnic.net/ipv6/XE). 
>>>> 
>>>> Yet they are.
>>>> This shows the real issue isn’t consultant scarcity, but operator‑level prioritization. IPv6 only moves when the dominant networks decide it matters.
>>>> 
>>>>  @christianbope <>
>>> Fully agree with your statement, @Christianbope.
>>> 
>>> We’ve seen this firsthand in Angola. Since launching the Angolan Peering Forum in 2019, we’ve focused on capacity building, knowledge sharing, and consistently engaging operators year after year. As a result, we’ve gone from 0% to approximately 15% nationwide IPv6 adoption today.
>>> 
>>> One of the top three contributors to this progress is Angola’s largest mobile operator, UNITEL (AS37119), which has reached 26% adoption. It took time to address the necessary operational and organizational adjustments, but today they’re more engaged than ever and continue to play an important role in advancing IPv6 adoption in the country.
>>> 
>>> Cheers.
>>> 
>>> Darwin/. 
>>>  
>>>>> 
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>> Jordi
>>>>> 
>>>>> @jordipalet
>>>>> 
>>>>> > El 27 jun 2026, a las 20:32, Ben Roberts - AfriNIC via RPD <rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>> escribió:
>>>>> > 
>>>>> > Alain,
>>>>> > I am with you on this. 
>>>>> > I was talking about this yesterday with someone. It seems we have been doing the same things with IPv6 capacity building for best part of 15 years and still it’s not really pushing (mass) adoption. Yet we keep doing the same things. …..
>>>>> > 
>>>>> > Most Africans connect to the phone via mobile. Manu of them through the “big 5” of African MNO groups. 
>>>>> > 
>>>>> > We need to focus our IPv6 efforts around 5 groups of MNOs plus 4 vendors (2 from China, 2 from Scandinavia).
>>>>> > 
>>>>> > These 9 companies know who they are…. Some of them are represented here….  
>>>>> > 
>>>>> > Then if they start deploying IPv6 then 700M Africans will be using IPv6
>>>>> > 
>>>>> > The rest will fall into place…. 
>>>>> > 
>>>>> > Cheers
>>>>> > 
>>>>> > Ben
>>>>> > 
>>>>> > 
>>>>> > Sent from my iPhone
>>>>> > 
>>>>> >> On 27 Jun 2026, at 20:52, ALAIN AINA via RPD <rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>> wrote:
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >>> On 26 Jun 2026, at 07:16, Benson Muite <benson_muite at emailplus.org <mailto:benson_muite at emailplus.org>> wrote:
>>>>> >>> 
>>>>> >>> "jordi.palet--- via RPD" <rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>> writes:
>>>>> >>> 
>>>>> >>>> Hi Seun,
>>>>> >>>> 
>>>>> >>>> I will actually say personally, the only acceptable X=1, but happy to concede with 2. Hopefully we don’t have a discussion and every participant chose a different number, as this is the typical issue when asking for a decision of “number of whatever” in trying to reach consensus.
>>>>> >>> 
>>>>> >>> The low adoption rate is worrying.  Clear criteria to justify IPv4
>>>>> >>> maybe helpful.  If one gets IPv4, IPv6 is free.  It is good that Afrinic
>>>>> >>> is doing outreach to universities. From Africa Gabon seems to have the
>>>>> >>> highest percentage capability:
>>>>> >>> https://stats.labs.apnic.net/ipv6
>>>>> >>> India also has good adoption and a diverse set of people in the internet
>>>>> >>> industry.  Understanding what has lead to adoption in these places may
>>>>> >>> help guide whether what new policies sohuld be adopted if any and how to
>>>>> >>> complement these with outreach and education activities.
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >> A few years ago, I published an analysis of IPv6 uptake in Africa, examining adoption from multiple angles, including infrastructure readiness, operator behaviour, and user‑access patterns. One of the key findings was the positive impact of new market entrants, particularly those who deployed IPv6‑capable networks from day one. That dynamic remains relevant today.
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >> Unfortunately, the overall situation has not changed significantly. The user‑access layer continues to be the weakest point in the regional IPv6 ecosystem. Given that Africa’s Internet is overwhelmingly mobile‑centric, meaningful progress depends on Mobile Internet Service Providers taking deliberate steps to enable IPv6 at scale. Without their participation, adoption will remain slow regardless of improvements elsewhere in the ecosystem.
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >> There are, however, some recent initiatives underway:
>>>>> >>  -  The ICANN grant to the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) to support IPv6 deployment in 30 African countries is a major development.
>>>>> >>  -  ATU has already published an interim implementation report, outlining early progress and challenges.
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >> These efforts complement AFRINIC’s ongoing outreach, including engagement with universities and technical communities.
>>>>> >> -----
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >> https://www.digitalintelligence.africa/publications/alain/AFRICA-and-IPv6-uptake.html
>>>>> >> https://www.icann.org/en/grant-program/first-cycle-funded-projects#deployment-ipv6-african-countries
>>>>> >> https://atuuat.africa/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ATU_IPv6_First_Interim_Status_Report_Sep-Dec_2025.pdf
>>>>> >> https://atuuat.africa/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Africa-IPv6-Development-White-Paper_double-page-version.pdf
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >> —Alain
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >>> 
>>>>> >>> 
>>>>> >>>> 
>>>>> >>>> I will also say that X is only for “single” allocations/assigments, in the sense that if you are doing something for HA (one of the policies that reached consensus yesterday), you must do it with IPv6. There is no sense that you deploy, today, an HA infrastructure without IPv6. What do you think ?
>>>>> >>>> 
>>>>> >>>> Regards,
>>>>> >>>> Jordi
>>>>> >>>> 
>>>>> >>>> @jordipalet
>>>>> >>>> 
>>>>> >>>>> El 25 jun 2026, a las 2:37, Seun Ojedeji <seun.ojedeji at gmail.com <mailto:seun.ojedeji at gmail.com>> escribió:
>>>>> >>>>> 
>>>>> >>>>> Hi Jordi,
>>>>> >>>>> 
>>>>> >>>>> ----
>>>>> >>>>> Sent from my mobile
>>>>> >>>>> kindly excuse typos
>>>>> >>>>> 
>>>>> >>>>> On Wed, 24 Jun 2026, 6:14 pm jordi.palet--- via RPD, <rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net> <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net <mailto:rpd at afrinic.net>>> wrote:
>>>>> >>>>>> .
>>>>> >>>>>> 
>>>>> >>>>>> So there is no difference in now setting a policy that clearly say, you get more IPv4, but you must also deploy IPv6.
>>>>> >>>>>> 
>>>>> >>>>>> We could also do something slightly different, I’m not sure if this is what Seun tried to say in the mic earlier this afternoon.
>>>>> >>>>>> 
>>>>> >>>>>> We don’t give any more IPv4 resources if you already got them previously. This has been done by most of the other RIRs. Will you agree with that? Only newcomers can get IPv4.
>>>>> >>>>> 
>>>>> >>>>> 
>>>>> >>>>> SO: More like you don't get IPv4 resources if you already got it for X number of times in the current phase unless you meet the IPv6 deployment plan requirements. My intention is for X not !=Once
>>>>> >>>>> 
>>>>> >>>>> Regards
>>>>> >>>>>> 
>>>>> >>>>>> Now, as a 2nd part of the proposal, resources left (even recovered), can be provided to anyone who also deploy IPv6, regardless of being a newcomer or an existing member.
>>>>> >>>>>> 
>>>>> >>>>>> What do you think?
>>>>> >>>>>> 
>>>>> >>>>>> Regards,
>>>>> >>>>>> Jordi
>>>>> >>>>>> 
>>>>> >>>>>> @jordipalet
>>>>> >>> 
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>>>>> >> 
>>>>> >> 
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>>>>> 
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>> **********************************************
>> IPv4 is over
>> Are you ready for the new Internet ?
>> http://www.theipv6company.com
>> The IPv6 Company
>> 
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**********************************************
IPv4 is over
Are you ready for the new Internet ?
http://www.theipv6company.com
The IPv6 Company

This electronic message contains information which may be privileged or confidential. The information is intended to be for the exclusive use of the individual(s) named above and further non-explicilty authorized disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this information, even if partially, including attached files, is strictly prohibited and will be considered a criminal offense. If you are not the intended recipient be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this information, even if partially, including attached files, is strictly prohibited, will be considered a criminal offense, so you must reply to the original sender to inform about this communication and delete it.

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