The Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat) has begun planning to adopt the next-generation Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) that will bring innovative technologies like video and software on demand, a senior official was quoted as saying by the Gulf News.
"The protocol concerns the development of specifications. Currently, the network operates on IPv4 which is now overloaded," said the official.
"The new protocol will expand the network's capacity to have more Internet addresses," Etisalat's president, Ali Salim, said.
"This protocol will enable us to cover all sectors," he added, but noted that the implementation will take considerable time.
"The challenge is in the number of Internet addresses," said Maroua Naim, general manager of Emirates Internet and Multimedia company.
He said developments in networking and e-commerce are constantly accelerating the demand for Internet addresses, according to the paper. "It will not only expand Internet addresses but will ensure better security," he said.
"Until now, applications are protected, but with IPv6 networks will be."
Last week, Etisalat announced it will raise its investments from Dh4 billion to Dh6 billion (DH1=$0.25) within three years to develop the internal telecommunications network and cover expenses of third-generation services.
The corporation, founded in 1976, introduces several services for customers, such as earth and coastal stations, landlines covering the length and breadth of the UAE, submarine cable systems and other utilities -- Albawaba.com
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