The adoption of IPv6 from the perspective of everyday internet users, particularly those engaged in social media, streaming, gaming, and general online activities, appears to be quite significant. This increase in IPv6 usage is evident when incorporating modern gaming consoles and similar devices, which tend to perform more efficiently and reliably under IPv6 networks compared to older configurations.
In various residential and small to medium business (SMB) networks that have been upgraded, IPv6 usage often ranges from 60% to 70%. For these users, it’s clear that IPv6 implementation offers smoother operations. In terms of broader networks, large-scale implementation of IPv6 is anticipated in the future, although it might take quite some time before it becomes widespread across all sectors.
In a more personal setting, the IPv6 adoption rate can peak at around 85%, particularly in environments where IPv4-only connections, such as certain VPN tunnels, are not heavily used. For a typical family setup, which previously consisted of five active users, the range of IPv6 usage averages from 65% to 85%, remaining consistent even when the number of users decreases. Most family members are average users engaged in diverse internet activities. This scenario is reflective of conditions in regions like the United States, where IPv6 support is relatively high among many service providers.
Interestingly, neither home networks nor SMBs in these cases have had to alter their IPv4 configurations significantly. Adjustments, if any, may involve reducing or centralizing the NAT (Network Address Translation) pools rather than maintaining separate NAT pools for individual offices.
Despite statistics from notable sources that highlight the percentage of end-users on IPv6, a critical query remains: what proportion of sites or customer endpoints are IPv6-native from the standpoint of total traffic? This question is crucial for understanding how much traffic would require translation via CGNAT (Carrier Grade NAT) when switching entirely to IPv6 while still needing access to IPv4-only networks.
Currently, sufficient IPv4 resources are available to maintain existing networks for the foreseeable future. However, as the traffic percentage via IPv6 increases, the rationale for transitioning becomes more compelling. An advantage of this transition is the potential downsizing of CGNAT infrastructure as increased traffic flow could occur over IPv6, reducing the pressure on NAT devices and infrastructure.
The transition to IPv6, although not urgent due to adequate IPv4 resources, presents a future where much of the existing barriers associated with older technologies could diminish. This forward momentum could lead to a smoother, more seamless internet experience for end-users, especially as more services and providers continue to adopt IPv6.
