Nigeria is set to become one of the few African countries to migrate to the IPV6 protocol. The government says that the latest protocol will improve how the government identifies, numbers, and tracks devices in Nigeria. This was revealed during the recent IPV6-Driven Digital Summit, with the theme ‘Bringing Net 5.5G into Reality: Inspiring Growth’. The summit was organized by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). It was done in collaboration with the IPV6 Council of Nigeria, the IPV6 Forum, and Huawei.
Sources at the summit said that the new protocol will improve both the security and management of the internet traffic, which will make it easier for the government to protect activities done on the internet. Nigeria has in the past found itself in the bad books as regards online scams. In the new move, the government hopes to bring the security infrastructure up to global standards in terms of cybersecurity.
What is the IPV6 Protocol?
The IPV6 protocol is the most recent version of the Internet Protocol that aims to replace the widely used IPV4 protocol. The new protocol aims to address various limitations that are found on the IPV4 as well as offer improvements in the delivery of internet services. For example, it uses 128-bit addresses, which is several times the number of addresses offered by IPV4, allowing it to support an unlimited number of devices.
Additionally, the new protocol improves routing to enable efficient address allocation. This improves network performance by reducing the size of routing tables. With the new protocol, you enjoy better connectivity with your online activities, such as gaming and video calling. If you love casino gaming, an ultimate online casino guide on HeadlineCasinos.com will get you started on this front.
There are also several other great features on IPV6, such as autoconfiguration, where devices configure themselves automatically when they connect to that network. It also supports IPsec features that improve authentication, confidentiality, and data integrity.
Nigeria among the First Adopters of the Technology
According to Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, the migration makes Nigeria one of the leading African countries in terms of adopting new technology. He emphasized that the adoption of the protocol would enable the network providers in Nigeria to offer more reliable services and increase security in online transactions.
He added to say that, even if the IPV6 is a global standard, only a few countries have fully embraced the protocol. Some of these countries include the U.S., Saudi Arabia, France, and the United Arab Emirates. They have embraced the technology but have not made it a national standard. So, they are trying to catch up.
Improved Security for Nigerians
The minister has emphasized the ability of the protocol to unmask cybercriminals by enabling security organs to view and track suspected devices and their online activity. Authorities would also note where there is unexceptionally huge traffic and track activities that are happening there.
Nigeria has been looking for ways to deal with increased cybersecurity incidents that have been happening in the country. It aims to tighten internet security and redeem the country from the negative image that has dogged it over the years. The IPV6 internet protocol is just one of the many initiatives that it wishes to put in place to take care of this problem.
IPV6 Adoption is also an Economic Milestone
While speaking at the event, Malam Kashifu, the Director General of NITDA, said that the adoption of the IPV6 protocol is on the highway to unlocking global markets. He noted research done by Roland Berger, a reputable consulting firm, which found that global adoption of the IPV6 protocol could unlock the $10 trillion global market. He said that Nigeria would enjoy part of this economic windfall with its adoption of the new technology.
In the country, the adoption of the latest internet protocol will increase internet connectivity and the quality of services offered by ISPs. In the recent past, the country has seen a sharp increase in the number of people who use the Internet for casual and business purposes.
The Issue of Device Compatibility
There is an issue with device compatibility with the new protocol. Devices must be compatible for them to connect with the new protocol. Fortunately, most of the devices currently in use around Nigeria are IPV6-ready. This means that their owners will not need to upgrade them to connect to the internet when the new protocol comes into force. Anyone who does not have a compatible device will need to upgrade to a newer one that accepts the technology.
When is the IPV6 Adoption Expected?
There are several hurdles that the country must overcome to adopt the IPV6 protocol. First, no policy in place gives the direction toward achieving the goal. Lawmakers and policymakers should come up with a migration plan and timelines within which key KPIs must be met.
Second, the government must educate the masses on the importance and significance of this migration. This is key to preventing mass connectivity disruptions when the migration is affected. Third, it will have to orient the security organs on the new technology and train them on new cybersecurity features that they would need to employ.
Source : https://thenationonlineng.net/nigeria-to-migrate-to-an-ipv6-internet-protocol/#google_vignette
