IPv6 traffic is still too low

Experts have determined that IPv6 traffic still represents a very small share of global internet traffic. According to Arbor Networks, IPv6 traffic accounts for only 0.25% of total internet traffic.

In addition, it is noted that over the past six months, the volume of IPv6 traffic has decreased by 12%, while IPv4 traffic has grown by 40–60%.

Arbor Networks experts cited technical and network design challenges as the main factors behind IPv6 implementation difficulties, as well as a lack of IPv6 content.

Peering networks account for 61% of IPv6 traffic. By comparison, peering networks account for 8% of IPv4 traffic.

HTTP traffic accounts for 19% of IPv4 traffic and 4.6% of IPv6 traffic. Online video accounts for about half of IPv4 traffic.

Let us recall that the last five address blocks were allocated by the ICANN organization in early February 2011.

June 8th marks International IPv6 Day, when a global stress test of network infrastructure for maximum IPv6 traffic load is planned. Facebook, Google, Yahoo, Akamai, Limelight Networks, and the Internet Society will participate in the test.