Why IPv4 Is Gone and How IPv6 Will Save the Internet

Exhaustion Timeline

April 15, 2011

APNIC allocated the last IPv4 block to RIPE NCC on September 14, 2012.

June 10, 2014

LACNIC allocated its final IPv4 block.

September 24, 2015

RIPE NCC in Europe finally exhausted its pool.

The final /22 IPv4 allocation was made on November 25, 2019, after which the global IPv4 pool was empty.

IPv6 Saves the World

IPv6 was created to replace the exhausted IPv4, offering a vastly larger address space.

Only 14% of the top 1,000 websites had adopted IPv6 by 2015, but adoption is growing as IPv4 resources dwindle.

IPv6 Protocol Advantages

1. Massive address capacity

IPv6 uses 128‑bit addresses, providing about 3.4×10^38 addresses—2^96 times more than IPv4.

2. Abundant address quantity

It is estimated that IPv6 could supply 1,000 unique IPs per square meter of Earth’s surface.

3. Higher security and features

IPv6 resolves many IPv4 limitations, including end‑to‑end connectivity, QoS, security, multicast, mobility, and plug‑and‑play.

In the upcoming IoT era, IPv6’s capacity will support billions of smart devices, and adopting it can give nations a strategic advantage.

Final Thought

IPv6: “I can assign an IP to every grain of sand on Earth.”