Etisalat & Case Technology to host international Internet Summit

Dubai, UAE
The conference, IPv6 Summit, is being officially sponsored by Etisalat, which is a member of the IPv6 Forum, and is expected to attract about 250 key members of the regional and international community of network designers, operators, vendors and researchers concerned with the evolution of Internet architecture.

Maroua Naim, General Manager, EIM said: "The fact that the IPv6 Forum has chosen Dubai to be the venue for a landmark conference on the "Next Generation" Internet protocol is a testimony to our state-of-the-art Internet infrastructure and our commitment to be continuously focused on integrating cutting-edge technology in our products and services."

IPv6 is short for "Internet Protocol Version 6" and is considered to be the "next generation" Internet protocol to replace the current version, Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4). The IPv6 forum is a world-wide consortium of leading Internet vendors, Research & Education Networks and major ISPs. With a mission is to dramatically improve the market and user awareness of IPv6, the forum is focused on creating a quality and secure New Generation Internet that allows world-wide equitable access to knowledge and technology.

Ms. Itidal Hassoon Regional Manager, Case Technology, a founding member of the IPv6 Forum, said that most of today's Internet uses IPv4, which is now nearly twenty years old.

"Though IPv4 has been remarkably resilient, some problems have begun to crop up. The biggest of these is the growing shortage of IP addresses which are needed by all new machines being added to the network. Of the world's 4.2 billion potential addresses on the Internet, there are only a few hundred million remaining to be taken. Also with the Internet doubling its size every nine months or so, the remaining addresses will be rapidly exhausted and the Internet will become frozen in time," she added.

With regard to IPv6 implementation on existing systems, Mr. Abdulla Hashim, Senior Manager, Business Development & Sales, EIM, said that currently software is available to upgrade most operating systems.

"The IPv6 Summit will serve to define the new IPv6 standard in the Middle East and will outline its deployment across the world. Key IPv6 forum speakers will also use the opportunity to present their development work, case studies and ideas on the new generation of Internet Protocol," he added.

IPv6 addresses a number of problem areas in IPv4 including the limited number of IP addresses. It also adds several improvements to IPv4, particularly in areas such as security routing, network management and auto-configuration, mobility, multicasting and quality of service. IPv6 is expected to replace IPv4 ultimately, though there will be a substantial period of transition during which the two will co-exist and work in tandem.

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For further detail contact:
Jean Akouri/ Arun Rangachari,
ASDA'A Public Relations, Burson-Marsteller Middle East Affiliate
Tel: 971-4-3344550, Fax: 971-4-3344556,
Email: info@asdaa.com