LACNIC and CAF and encourage IoT development in the region

31/03/2016

CAF —the Latin American Development Bank— and LACNIC presented a study that seeks to contribute to the development, expansion and adoption of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). This would allow meeting the growing demand resulting from greater Internet utilization and the rise in the number of electronic devices.

Titled “IPv6 Deployment for Social and Economic Development in Latin America and the Caribbean,” the report’s conclusions highlight the importance of migrating towards the new IPv6 format, as IPv4 has is reaching exhaustion and this would limit the chance of a successful development of the Internet of Things (IoT).

The IoT involves digitally interconnecting everyday objects to the Internet. To do so, each object needs an IP address. IP version 6 allows a significantly larger number of addresses than its predecessor, IPv4, and at the same time  allows improving connection quality.

“This study is part of the CAF ICT program, which was created so that the region’s information and communications technology sector can have all the elements needed for its development,” explained Gladis Genua, CAF director and representative in Uruguay.

In this regard, she stressed that the institution supports countries in different ways, such as the construction of the infrastructure necessary for the industry to expand, the development of a regulatory framework, and the definition of public policies. It also supports the generation of knowledge based on successful experiences that can be replicated.

“This sector is a priority in our strategy. We believe that generating a knowledge economy with technological and scientific foundations can make a difference in building capacity for development in the countries of the region, as others who have walked this path have already done with favorable economic and social outcomes,” noted Genua.

CAF provided USD 158,000 for the study, which were used to cover mobility, logistics and communication costs as well as to hire external supporting resources.

Members of the research team and LACNIC’s technical department were in charge of coordinating and executing the project.

During the presentation, Oscar Robles, LACNIC CEO, stressed the importance of this report. “This study supports a more efficient expansion at a time when significant progress is required. IPv6 is necessary for Internet growth, otherwise we will come to a standstill and the Internet of Things will not be possible,” he said.

Likewise, Omar de León, external researcher in charge of the project, noted that 50% of global Internet content is available over IPv6.

The report points out that in only four of the ten studied countries more than 1% of traffic was using the new protocol, wich reflects the fact that the region is falling significantly behind in this area.

The full report is available at http://scioteca.caf.com/handle/123456789/837