DENVER – July 8, 2010 –To stay ahead of the Internet’s explosive growth, Qwest Communications (NYSE: Q) today announced it is offering public and private Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) addresses to its government and business customers. Now Qwest iQ® Networking service customers can take advantage of IPv6’s built-in security measures and options, as well as a near-endless supply of IP addresses.
This morning, Qwest chairman and chief executive officer Ed Mueller announced the new IPv6 functionality during a keynote address at the Cybersecurity Symposium 2010 conference hosted by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) in Washington, D.C. Mueller also is the current chairman of the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC).
KEY FACTS
- Qwest offers transition paths so customers can use the next generation of addressing protocol to run both IPv4 and/or IPv6 addresses via either:
- Dual Stack approach which offers the ability to run both IPv4 and IPv6 so customers may transition over time and with ease; or
- Native IPv6which allows Qwest customers to adapt to the next-generation IP protocol as they build new locations and bring on new sites and devices.
- IPv4 has a limit of approximately 4 billion serviceable IP addresses that will exhaust in 2011 as the current pool of available IPv4 addresses dwindles to approximately 600 million, according to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority. However, IPv6 is nearly inexhaustible (128 bits – 2 to the 128th power).
- With native IPv6, Qwest business and government customers no longer need to use Network Address Translation (NAT), making configuration of complex networks simpler while providing simpler connectivity between peer-to-peer networks for highly secure end-to-end connectivity.
- Through the Qwest Control dashboard, iQ® Networking service customers can view their new IPv6 addresses, take advantage of trouble ticketing and repair functions and create reports. Qwest iQ® Networking service is a reliable and dedicated Internet access service over the advanced Qwest 10 Gig backbone, one of the most sophisticated networks available.
- To participate in the federal government’s Networx program, the largest communications services contract in the world, Qwest was certified to offer both IPv4 and IPv6 capability and public and private network native IPv6 connectivity. In June, Qwest announced compliance with the requirements for offering Most Trusted Internet Protocol Services (MTIPS)to federal agencies under the Networx contracts. Qwest provides its MTIPS Internet security solution in a cloud-based environment to secure federal government agencies’ external access points to the Internet.
