Global IPv6 Summit in China 2004 Elite Panel 1: IPv6 and Next Generation Internet

Chaired by:
Lei Zhenzhou	, Senior Expert of MII
Panelists:
Zhao Huiling	, Vice President, Beijing Research Institute of China Telecom
Zhang Tongxu	, Chief Engineer, Beijing Consulting and Design Institute of P&T
Jim Bound	, Chairman, IPv6 North America Task Force
Hiroshi Esaki	, Executive Director of IPv6 Promotion Council of Japan
Jeff Doyle	, IPv6 Solutions Manager, Juniper
Karim El Malki	, Senior Engineer, Ericsson
Yasuki Saito	, NTT Communications

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The panel discussed key technologies of Next Generation Internet, and readiness of IPv6 network services and network equipment, as well as IPv6 network deployment. Excerpts of comments by the panelists:

Huling: China Telecom has been researching NGI for some time now. With NGI, equipments from different vendors have to interoperate, so we have tested routers from major manufcurers. With CNGI, China Telecom builds the core network between Peking and Shanghai. The core will be built with IPv6 and MPLS, while access networks will widely use tunneling. IPv6 deployment depends on the maturity of the market, and cooperation among vendors is critical.

Esaki: There are two aspects to key technologies for NGI: vertical and horizontal. Vertical aspect involves considerations on protocols and functions including datalink, routing (esp. multi-homing/multi-addressing), authentication, security, etc. Horizontal aspect requires integration of standards, globally referenced implementations, certifications, and above all, integration of IPv6 in commercial, production applications.

Tongxu: NGI means technology and market demand. IPv6 can bring Internet closer to telecom. New requirements for NGI are: scalability, mobility, security and reliability. CNGI will have 2.5Gbps to 10Gbps backbone and connect to the world. We will explore 3G application in this project. Multicast is another application area.

Bound: At North American IPv6 Task Force, we will complete all IPv6 network and system elements by 2008. One of the most important focus areas is security. We have only four vendors supporting IPv6 IPsec now.

Doyle: (On maturity of IPv6 routers) Juniper Networks is focused on service provider market while Cisco Systems, for example, has products for small networks. There are different requirements for small office routers, such as 6to4 support. I believe first large deployment will be at home. There are applications such as online gaming, video on demand, and VoIP, which works better with IPv6. But small router vendors are generally slow in IPv6 support. We need this to be changed. On the other hand, enterprise market needs compelling applications. We need to figure out proper method for multihoming. Otherwise, there will be no IPv6 deployment in enterprise market.

Malki: (On killer applications) Network operators, clearly need IPv6. Operator can start small now and move slowly. They may use tunneling at first and slowly upgrade its networks, to minimize risks.

Bound: (On lessons from Moonv6) Many engineers have worked together, defining network down to the access level. On Moonv6, everyone shares. No politics. It’s about teamwork.

Esaki: (On development of products supporting IPv6) Engineers don’t make business decisions. What’s important is leadership at product/service companies. Business managers need to decide if they want to bear the risk of come up with new applications earlier than anyone else.

Saito: (On IPv6 support by ISPs): In a world where non-PC devices beginning to be connected, we believe that offering network services is not enough. We need to be able to offer platforms so that products from other industries can easily utilize connectivity. One of the examples of such moves by NTT Communications is m2m-x, a SIP-based communication management system. It allows devices on the network talk to each other transparently in secure manner. Each device can be authenticated for limiting visibility to other network-connected devices and access can be controlled on demand. Communication can be encrypted by IPsec. NTT and other companies started Ubiquitous Open Platform Forum for advancing use of network by non-PC devices. We welcome you to join this forum.

From left: Huiling, Esaki, Tongxu, and Zhenzhou

From left: Saito, Doyle, and Malki

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