The transition to IPv6 is now a practical necessity for networks under pressure to scale, secure, and streamline their operations. With only 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses available globally, many providers have long relied on workarounds like Carrier-Grade Network Address Translation (CGNAT). These add complexity, create troubleshooting headaches, and can introduce security gaps.
IPv6 removes that ceiling. Its vast address space allows every device to be directly and uniquely addressed, removing the need for large-scale address sharing. This is increasingly important for Internet-connected sensors, Autonomous Systems, and bandwidth-intensive services such as AR / VR and real-time analytics, where low latency and predictable performance are essential.
The cost of delaying adoption
The risks of delay are already visible. In the past year, some large-scale cloud migrations were slowed by IPv4 shortages and the cost of dual-stack configurations. A streaming provider even had to restrict new user sign-ups in certain markets until more addresses became available. Meanwhile, networks already running IPv6 have been able to launch new services without those constraints, keeping pace with IPv6-only environments now being rolled out by mobile carriers, hyperscale cloud providers, and data centres.
IPv6 and the digital divide
The shift to IPv6 is not just about capacity, it’s also about access. As more networks move to IPv6-only, organizations and users stuck on IPv4 may see reduced performance, compatibility issues, or complete inaccessibility to parts of the Internet. This creates the risk of a digital gap between regions, businesses, and individuals who are IPv6-ready and those who are not.
For small enterprises and developing markets, this can translate into fewer opportunities to reach global audiences, reduced participation in digital trade, and limited access to modern cloud and IoT platforms. Over time, this divide could widen as IPv6 becomes the default in emerging services while IPv4 systems are left to rely on increasingly fragile translation layers.
Performance and security gains
IPv6’s benefits go beyond scale. It supports streamlined routing, simplified network configuration, and end-to-end security models without the extra translation layers required for IPv4 compatibility. These advantages matter in latency-sensitive use cases like online gaming, high-definition streaming, and industrial control systems. Where IPv4 is still required, translation tools such as NAT64 can bridge the gap, but they add overhead and potential failure points, making them better suited as transitional tools than permanent fixtures.
Preparing for the future
Every new connected device, whether part of a smart city grid, a logistics fleet, or a remote healthcare platform, increases demand for addresses. IPv4 was never designed for this level of growth. Organizations that move early to IPv6 can build infrastructure without the constraints and costs of retrofitting later. In telecommunications, this is already driving the move to IPv6-only cores, reducing operational overhead and simplifying network management. In enterprise IT, it means smoother global rollouts and faster integration with modern cloud services.
IPv4 leasing as a temporary bridge
During the transition, leasing IPv4 space can provide breathing room, but it is only a bridge. Long-term resilience and reach will depend on fully enabling IPv6 across networks, applications, and services. As more of the Internet becomes IPv6-only, readiness will be the difference between seamless participation and gradual exclusion from parts of the global network.
Vincentas Grinius is the Co-Founder at IPXO.
The views expressed by the authors of this blog are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of APNIC. Please note a Code of Conduct applies to this blog.