VietNamNet Bridge – The big enterprises such as Viettel, VNPT and FPT have been moving very slowly with their IPv6 plans, because the State has not released the required standards for IPv6.

Network device manufacturers and importers complained that a lot of obstacles still exist that hinder the IPv6 plans. The state management agencies have not set up the technique standards, while relevant agencies have not declared the preferential policies for the production and import of the devices compatible to IPv6.

Meanwhile, digital content firms said the biggest hindrance is the incompatibility of the software apps with IPv6. Meanwhile, the software developed by enterprises themselves account for up to 50 percent of the total software being used in the information and telecommunication technology system.

According to the national taskforce in charge of pushing up the IPv6 implementation, the Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT) still has not set up the plan to provide IPv6 for access service. It has only tried IPv6 for vnpt.com.vn and mic.gov.vn websites of the Ministry of Information and Communication.

In October 2013, VNPT began deploying IPv6 in reality, but in a small scaled network, just to assess the equipment efficiency and other features.

Other big enterprises including FPT Telecom and Viettel have also moved ahead with the plan to try IPv6. Viettel has connected with the national IPv6 network and maintained the connections with nine international partners, including  HKIX, AKAMAI, HE, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo.

The military telco has provided IPv6 connection services in a trial basis to 1,000 ADSL subscribers, now running on both IPv4 and IPv6. It has also provided IPv6 connection to 1,000 USB 3G subscribers in Hanoi.

In 2013, Viettel successfully upgraded the equipment allowing to ramify the network access for wired broadband services and 3G services in order to support IPv6.

FPT Telecom has set up and maintained 10 IPv6 connections with the international partners who provide international services such as Tata, Yahoo and Google, and connected the national IPv6 network.

The preparation of the transmission line has been completed for the run of both IPv4 and IPv6 at the same time, while it is preparing a reasonable amount of terminal devices to get ready to provide services to broadband and FTTX subscribers as soon as they demand.

As for the content service, FPT Telecom has been supporting the conversion into IPv6 for vnexpress.net and some online games.

Netnam said it has got ready to provide IPv6 Internet access service as it has made IPv6 connection with the national IPv6 network in Hanoi and HCM City--with the capacity of 2Gbps and average bandwidth of 50 Kbps in working hours.

The national taskforce in charge of speeding up the development of IPv6 plans to support Internet firms to build up suitable plans to implement IPv6 and examine the process of switching into IPv6.

Three years ago, when the program on switching to IPv6 was kicked off, the Vietnam Internet Network Information Center (VNNIC) saidVietnam will have to spend 4-5 years to complete the switch to IPv6 technology, provided that Internet service providers (ISP) commit to join forces to carry out the necessary changes.

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