KUALA LUMPUR, 24 NOVEMBER 2008 -- Malaysian Internet Registry agency MYNIC (MYNIC) has launched the country’s new IPv6 domain framework, to address the growing shortage of IP addresses.
MYNIC director Shariya Haniz Zulkifli said that the activation of the myDNSIPv6 framework was an important milestone as Malaysia's IP (Internet Protocol) addresses are currently operating on the IPv4 framework, which is more than 25 years old.
“The rapid growth of the Internet community calls for bigger address capacity and MYNIC as the sole administrator of domain identities in Malaysia has dedicated research teams, time and resources towards upgrading the DNS (Domain Name System) system—the World Wide Web’s roadmap—to support the ‘next generation’, the IPv6 protocol, and ensure the shift is done smoothly to serve the local community,” said Zulkifli.
"The increasing number of new IP's is wearing out the number of addresses the IPv4 framework can support hence the need to shift to IPv6 with its larger address space and enhanced capabilities,” she said. “This way, Malaysia can welcome and manage more IP addresses, which simply means more users can jump onto the online bandwagon."
MYNIC (www.mynic.my) is an agency under the ministry of science, technology and innovation and is regulated by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). MYNIC administers the name space for the .my top level domain (TLD). This involves the registration of domain names as well as the maintenance and operation of a domain name registry (a central database for .my domain names).
All Malaysian sectors to be in touch with online world
Zulkifli said that the availability of wireless connectivity services such as WiMAX, along with existing WiFi and broadband services has attracted more users. “The Internet is being used for businesses, communication, expression of views and entertainment. The rising popularity of the online media and its growing audience requires Malaysia to expand and upgrade its IP framework firstly to serve the growing framework and secondly to support its vision to be a technology leader in the region.”
"In the last few years, Internet usage has become a large part of the nation's functionability,” she said. “Whether government, individuals, companies or institutions, all sectors are in touch with the online world for multiple purposes. Hence, the growing number of machines logging on to the Internet can only mean a growing number of IP addresses registered in the system."
Deputy minister, science, technology & innovation, Tuan Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, and MCMC regulator, chairman Datuk Dr Halim Shafie, officiated at the launch of the new framework.
The deputy minister urged local domain name owners are urged to register their IPv6 address as soon as possible through MYNIC Berhad, while Dr Shafie said that IPv6 would help accommodate the rising number of Internet users in the nation.
“MCMC expects Malaysia to experience 50 per cent broadband penetration and 97 per cent mobile penetration by the year 2010,” said Dr Shafie. Currently, Malaysia has 17 per cent broadband and 90 per cent mobile penetration respectively.”
From 32 to 128-bit framework
Zulkifli said that the address space is increased from the 32-bit of IPv4 to 128-bit with the IPv6 framework. “Compared to the IPv4 which could accommodate 4 billion IP addresses, the IPv6 provides a theoretical maximum of 340 undecillion (billion billion billion billion) IP addresses. With such a huge address space, ISPs (Internet Service Providers) would have sufficient IP addresses to allocate enough addresses to every customer so that every IP device has a truly unique address. “
"IPv6 also has the capability of reducing the total time which people have to spend configuring and managing systems,” she added. “An IPv6 system can participate in ‘stateless’ auto-configuration, where it creates a guaranteed-unique IP address and offers a middle ground, which makes the lives of network managers easier."
“The IPv6 would only gradually replace the IPv4 framework. For the time being, both the systems will co-exist for many years before the IPv6 becomes an independent provider,” said MYNIC’s Zulkifli.
