Etisalat to host First IP networking event for Middle East in Dubai

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This will be the first event of its kind for Internet development in the region.

In attending this critical event, ISPs, telecommunications providers, government organisations and educational institutions from the region will get a unique opportunity to decide on Internet strategies to protect Internet innovation in the Middle East.

Over the past five years, IPv4 uptake for the region has increased by almost 150%.

The corresponding uptake for IPv6 has yet to reach significant levels, yet the allocation and installation of new address space is critical for the region's economic growth.

Hosted by Etisalat, RIPE 57 will provide an opportunity for Middle East decision makers to participate in and agree on strategies to safeguard the region's economic growth through responsible and forward-looking Internet infrastructure development, including the need for IPv6 uptake.

According to Abdulla Hashim,VP, Enterprise Solutions, Etisalat:

'There is a huge need for IPv6 deployment across the Middle East in order to protect and ensure the healthy, fast-paced development of the Internet economy and the future of IP networks. It would be short-sighted not to see the development of world class Internet infrastructure as a key for the region's success in a global economy.'

The Managing Director of the RIPE NCC, Axel Pawlik, states: 'RIPE Meetings play a key role in the development of the Internet and the way it's managed and structured.

'Continued success of the Internet in the Middle East will depend on free availability of IP address space. As IPv6 provides the necessary address space for future growth, we urge business and government leaders to take part in this critical event. Failure to adopt these new resources could mean a slowdown in the pace of Internet innovation.'

Sultan Al Shamsi, Manager,UAEnic said:'This is the first time in history that a RIPE Meeting will take place in the Middle East, and we are honoured to host this landmark gathering. 'Now is the time to recognise that sustainable growth of the IPv4-based Internet is coming to an end and that it is time to move on, with IPv6 ready to sustain the impressive speed of Internet innovation in the Middle East and ensure a healthy Internet economy for our future.'

'Etisalat has been at the forefront of development of IPv6 in the Middle East and was the first in the region to obtain IPv6 allocation from RIPE. We've made significant progress in establishing peering with GCC providers in addition to establishing IPv6 testing network with educational institutes in the UAE. This meeting will provide a great opportunity to network and evaluate progress on IPv6 with our peers across the region.'

Pawlik concludes:

'Once the roadmap for Middle East success has been identified at RIPE 57, we will have well-established, open and widely supported mechanisms for Internet resource management that will meet the needs of all Internet stakeholders through the period of IPv4 exhaustion and IPv6 deployment.'