Cox Partners with Business Customers for Global Internet Test on World IPv6 Day.

Cox Business and several of the company's customers participated in a global-scale test of next generation Internet addresses.

World IPv6 Day is coordinated by The Internet Society (ISOC) to encourage adoption of IPv6 Internet addresses.

Similar to the 7-to-10-digit phone number migration required in metro areas, the Company said the rapid growth of online devices and applications is pushing the current Internet address schema (IPv4) to its limits. IPv6 has an address space and consists of 128 bits as compared to 32 bits in IPv4 - resulting in approximately 340 undecillion (5 x 10(38)) IPv6 addresses versus the 4.2 billion available through IPv4.

In 2010, Cox began exchanging native IPv4 and IPv6 traffic dual-stack with select business customers and is now conducting residential service trials with Cox employees. The global IPv6 transition will take years to complete, therefore it is important to demonstrate the ability to support both IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously to ensure no service interruptions.

"We are testing IPv6 with Cox Business customers early to ensure that they can provide a consistent experience to their end users," said Jeff Finkelstein, senior director of architecture, Cox Communications. "Cox's dual-stack IPv6 deployment allows customers the ability to continue leveraging current IPv4 capability while incrementally adding the IPv6 support required for the next generation of network devices and applications."

According to a release, Cox Business customers participating in World IPv6 Day include ARIN, FastQ Communications, InsureMyTrip, Jefferson Lab, Kwikom, Login and Promptlink. These businesses will access multiple Web sites running IPv6 on World IPv6 Day and monitor interoperability with their internal systems. Anecdotes will be used to determine successful points of integration and highlight opportunities for improvement as the global transition approaches.

IPv4 address space is expected to be depleted in 2012, when all Internet customers must begin slowly migrating their devices and content to IPv6. Cox's core network is fully IPv6 compliant and the company is transitioning the network edge and support infrastructure to meet customer demand.

"Using a voice analogy, when someone makes a call you want to make sure the phone rings on the other end," continued Finkelstein. "Cox is deploying support for IPv6 in a way that is transparent to the customer experience and is working to ensure all networks, systems and products are fully IPv6-enabled."

Cox Business provides voice, data and video services for more than 260,000 small and regional businesses, including healthcare providers, K-12 and higher education, financial institutions and federal, state and local government organizations.

Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing digital video, Internet, telephone and wireless services over its own nationwide IP network.

More information:

www.cox.com

www.coxmedia.com

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