20 November 2008: IPv6Now Teams with Ai Group to Build IPv6 Testbed for Victorian Industry
NEWS RELEASE FROM IPv6 NOW PTY LTD
IPv6Now will be working with Multimedia Victoria (MMV) and AI Group to build an IPv6 testbed network for Victorian industry. MMV, the ICT arm of the Victorian Government, signed an agreement with Ai Group this week which should see work commence on the design of the testbed within weeks. IPv6Now will manage the design and implementation with Ai Group providing the industry connections.
"Industry needs a place to start", said Tony Hill, Managing Director of IPv6Now. "This will give industry a network to test their ideas in without having to make any major capital investments. They will be able to test equipment and software in a working IPv6-connected network, to gain knowhow and experience that they can apply directly to their own business operations. It is a short cut to productivity, cost savings and innovation."
"We know IPv6 is coming", said Hill, "and industry knows it too. This testbed will allow businesses to work out solutions and build confidence in the new technology."
The testbed will be open to all Victorian industries, but is initially aimed at the finance, automotive and health sectors. The Ai Group National CEO Survey published last month emphasised the importance of connectivity to Victorian industry, and IPv6 is shaping up to be a vital aspect of connectivity to, in particular, Asian markets and industry partners. innovation productivity cost-saving
Hill expects vendors of network equipment to be eager to showcase their latest IPv6-capable equipment in the new network, and in fact sees that as one of the main functions of the testbed. "If people see it working in the testbed, they're not going to go away and buy something else" said Hill. "This is an ideal and risk-free way for vendors to reach potential customers, and for industry to see what works."
Consultation with industry on the design of the network will begin almost immediately. The first users of the network are expected by March 2009.
For more information on IPv6Now, Ai Group and Multimedia Victoria, see: www.ipv6now.com.au, www.aigroup.asn.au and www.mmv.vic.gov.au
Contact details:
IPv6 Now Pty Ltd (ACN 126 460 955)
PO Box 152
Civic Square ACT 2608
Email: info@ipv6now.com.au
Web: www.ipv6now.com.au
Phone: +61-2-61616607
Background to Ai Group:
The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) is a leading industry association in Australia, representing a wide range of industry sectors. Together, Ai Group and its affiliates represent the interests of approximately 60,000 businesses which employ in excess of 1.2 million staff across Australia and the world. Ai Group is an organisation committed to helping Australian industry meet the challenge of change. Its focus is on building competitive industries through global integration, human capital development, productive and flexible workplace relations practices, infrastructure development and innovation.
Background to MMV:
Multimedia Victoria (MMV) works to grow the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, and drive economic growth through access to and use of sophisticated ICT. Part of the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, MMV also works closely with the ICT industry, education and training providers and the wider business community.
Background to IPv6Now:
IPv6 Now Pty Ltd supplies commercial services to business and government, covering all aspects of IPv6, including strategic advice, technical training, network design and testing, and dual-stack hosting for websites, domain names and email. IPv6Now also provides access with guaranteed service levels to the IPv6 Internet, via Australia's first commercial tunnel broker. The company's main offices are in Canberra and Sydney, with offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, South Coast NSW and regional Victoria.
Background to IPv6:
IPv6 is the next generation Internet protocol. It will eventually replace IPv4, which the Internet currently runs on, though there will be a period where both are in use. IPv4 addresses are expected to run out in about 2011. IPv6 uses a 128-bit address, meaning that it can provide an extraordinarily large number of addresses. See www.ipv6.org.au (which incidentally was the first IPv6-accessible website in Australia and is now hosted on an IPv6Now dual-stack server).