Warnings sounded over IP address shortage

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A shortage of new IP addresses could arise in the coming years, according to a recent report.

Research firm Nemertes predicted in a recent report that by 2012, the Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) system will run out of new addresses, and companies will begin opting for private ‘overlay’ networks rather than public internet domains.

The result, according to Nemertes, could be an internet system that ‘fractures’ into smaller pieces.

“Requirements for multi-homing, providing multiple, separate routes to a given address, and ever-increasing mobility are placing added stress on the current Internet logical infrastructure,” said Nemertes senior analyst Dr. Mike Jude.

“In effect, the Internet could fracture back into groups of networks.”

The research firm is not alone in its worries of an IP shortage. Earlier this month, the American Registry for Internet Numbers warned that IPv4 could be depleted within 2 years, and urged companies to begin a switch to the newer IPv6 system, which carries a far larger capacity.

Even that, however, may not be enough, according to Nemertes. The firm argues that companies have not been moving fast enough to adopt IPv6, calling the plan “too little too late.”

Nemertes said that just 1% of companies it surveyed in its study had begun the upgrade to IPv6.

“None of this means the Internet will abruptly stop working. Instead, the slowdown will be in the area of innovation,” said Nemertes research analyst Ted Ritter.

“Ultimately, access bandwidth limitations will hamper deployment of next-generation applications.”

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