Sprint announced that it is ready to deploy IPv6 and is nearing initial beta testing of IPv6 MPLS VPNs on its Peerless IP (PIP) network, which provides a platform that is physically and logically isolated from the public Internet. Customer trials are expected to begin in January 2008, with general availability in the second quarter of 2008.
IPv6 will greatly expand IP addressing space, thereby accommodating the rapidly growing number of Internet devices and applications. IPv6 is also expected to make significant improvements in areas such as routing and auto configuration resulting in better functionality and enhanced security.
Sprint offers a variety of IP-based services and will continue to expand them in parallel with IPv6 evolution. These services will include Dedicated IP, MPLS VPN, Managed Network Services, and Consulting services. Federal agencies are expected to be the first to benefit from IPv6, as support for IPv6 is a requirement per the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The primary IPv6 vehicle for Sprint federal customers is the Networx Enterprise contract. Sprint will add IPv6 services to the Federal Networx Enterprise contract as they become available for IPv6 planning and transition support.
“Since 1997, Sprint has been actively involved in the standardization, testing, and deployment of IPv6,” said Iyad Tarazi, VP of network development at Sprint. “As an early adopter of IPv6 in an experimental capacity, we’ve been testing IPv6 applications with our customers for more than a decade, and our involvement has provided Sprint the expertise that is needed to develop solutions for the emerging addressing constraints and for the general market.”http://www.sprint.com
