Over the long term, deploying IPv6 is what we need to do. In the short term however, MAINTAINING growth of IPv4 SERVICES will require address sharing which can only be considered a temporary fix.

The sharing will be implemented at the SERVICE provider level in the form of large scale NATs. This means that users will find that they are sharing their IP address with a few hundred of their NETWORK NEIGHBOURS at the same time. This will result in reduced performance and capabilities for end users, and higher costs and management complexity for service providers.

Over the long term, deploying IPv6 is what we need to do. In the short term however, maintaining growth of IPv4 services will require address sharing which can only be considered a temporary fix.

The sharing will be implemented at the service provider level in the form of large scale NATs. This means that users will find that they are sharing their IP address with a few hundred of their network neighbours at the same time. This will result in reduced performance and capabilities for end users, and higher costs and management complexity for service providers.