What Is IPv6 and Why Do We Need It?

Picture the internet as a giant postal system. For a package (your data) to arrive, every device, whether it’s a smartphone, a laptop or a smart fridge, needs a unique house number. We call this house number an IP address.

The problem: the old system (IPv4) is full

Until now we’ve mostly used the IPv4 standard. These addresses look something like this: 192.168.1.1. The problem is that this system only allows about 4.3 billion addresses.

What once sounded like a lot is no longer enough today. Since almost everyone now owns several internet-capable devices, the “house numbers” have simply run out worldwide.

The solution: IPv6

IPv6 is the modern successor. It was designed to give the internet practically unlimited room.

• The number space: While IPv4 offers just over 4 billion addresses, IPv6 provides an unimaginable number: 340 undecillion (a 340 followed by 36 zeros). That’s enough to give every grain of sand on Earth its own IP address.
• The look: IPv6 addresses are longer and consist of numbers and letters separated by colons, for example: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.

What are the benefits for you?

Although IPv6 works in the background, it offers you as a user concrete benefits:

1. Future-proofing: Without IPv6, the internet couldn’t keep growing. New devices and services run more smoothly with the new standard.
2. Direct reachability: Devices can communicate directly with each other on the internet again (end-to-end connection), which is especially beneficial for smart home applications, gaming and video calls.
3. More security: IPv6 was designed from the ground up so that encryption and privacy can be integrated more easily.
4. Speed: Modern routers and networks often process IPv6 packets more efficiently than the old IPv4 data.

Good to know: As a user, you don’t need to change anything. Modern operating systems and routers from jumpit.eu use IPv6 automatically whenever possible. The old IPv4 usually keeps running in the background so you can still reach older websites without any problems.

Summary for those in a hurry

IPv6 is the “license plate of the next generation”. It makes sure we never run out of addresses on the internet and that your devices stay connected to each other securely, quickly and reliably.