The State of IPv6 Deployment in 2018: Progress and Pain Points

October 2018 • 9 min read

Introduction

In 2018, IPv6 deployment enters a new phase of maturity. Global ISPs report steady growth, major websites offer full IPv6 access, and operating systems prioritize IPv6 routing. Yet despite visible progress, many enterprises still lag. The transition is no longer about protocol support—it's about integration, planning, and operational confidence.

Global Trends in IPv6 Adoption

Google’s public stats show IPv6 adoption surpassing 25% globally, with peaks in countries like Belgium, Germany, and India. Mobile carriers lead the charge. In the U.S., major cellular providers reach over 80% IPv6 penetration. These numbers highlight a successful shift in public-facing connectivity.

Enterprises Remain Hesitant

Enterprises often hesitate to deploy IPv6 internally. Challenges include legacy applications, hardcoded IPv4 dependencies, and unfamiliar operational models. Many organizations still see IPv6 as a future requirement—not an urgent one—especially if NAT and CGNAT shield internal networks from pressure.

Address Planning and DNS Strategy

IPv6 is not just a bigger address space. It requires a rethinking of how networks are designed. Prefix delegation, interface IDs, privacy extensions, and naming conventions complicate address planning. DNS strategy must evolve too, balancing forward/reverse lookups with dual-stack compatibility.

IPv6 in BGP and WAN Routing

ISPs enable IPv6 BGP sessions over MPLS and direct Internet. Enterprises now run dual-stack BGP peering, using separate address families. Some adopt 6PE or 6VPE for transitional strategies. However, policy-based routing, prefix filters, and route-maps must be carefully mirrored between IPv4 and IPv6 to avoid asymmetric paths.

Security Considerations

IPv6 introduces new attack surfaces. SLAAC, DHCPv6, and RA spoofing create risks on LANs. Firewalls must apply consistent policies across v4 and v6. Security teams require updated training and tools—many IDS/IPS platforms initially underperform with IPv6 traffic. Logging and monitoring must also evolve.

Testing and Validation

Before enabling IPv6 enterprise-wide, IT teams simulate traffic, validate failover scenarios, and monitor app behavior. Test labs help detect issues like MTU mismatches, DNS delays, or broken dual-stack logic. Monitoring tools should show per-stack telemetry to avoid blind spots.

Use Cases Driving IPv6 Now

Cloud platforms like AWS and Azure enable IPv6 for front-end services. IoT deployments, especially constrained devices, benefit from simplified addressing without NAT. Some compliance frameworks now require IPv6 readiness for specific verticals like government, defense, and telecom.

Best Practices for 2018

• Enable dual-stack incrementally, starting with external services.
• Train staff on IPv6 fundamentals and security implications.
• Audit all infrastructure—load balancers, monitoring tools, DNS, and VPNs.
• Update policies, firewalls, and ACLs to support IPv6 symmetrically.
• Test real-world use cases, not just connectivity.

Conclusion

IPv6 is no longer experimental. In 2018, it represents a production-grade transport for ISPs, cloud providers, and forward-thinking enterprises. The delay in enterprise adoption stems not from technical gaps, but from inertia and risk aversion. Organizations must act now to modernize their networks—and future-proof their strategies.

Eduardo Wnorowski is a network infrastructure consultant and Director.
With over 23 years of experience in IT and consulting, he helps organizations maintain stable and secure environments through proactive auditing, optimization, and strategic guidance.
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