The broadband networking company aims to ease telecommunications providers’ transition to the next-generation of Internet protocol standards.
Anaheim, Calif.-based ZyXEL Communications, which provides broadband networking, Internet connectivity, and routing products, now provides IPv6 support for several of its ADSL2 and VDSL2 gateways. The newest IPv6-ready customer-premises equipment (CPEs) includes the P660HN Series ADSL2 gateways and VSG Series of VDSL2 combo-WAN gateways.
Offering operators different migration path options, ZyXEL’s IPv6-enabled CPE implements both IPv6 Ready Deployment (IPv6 RD) 
and IPv6/IPv4 Dual Stack. These two transition paths give service providers the ability to run IPv6 only, or IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously on the CPE. In each case, the company helps facilitate a gradual rollout of IPv6 service within the network.
For example, a service provider could start rolling out IPTV service over IPv6, while providing data service using IPv4 through its dual-stack implementation feature. ZyXEL showed this capability at CES 2011 where the gateways communicated with IPv6 DHCP and FTP servers, simultaneously supporting IPv4 and IPv6 protocol stacks.
“Migration to IPv6 protocol is required for uninterrupted growth of the Internet, and service providers are working on the transition to ensure they can keep adding subscribers even after the industry runs out of IPv4 addresses,” says Brian Feng, senior vice president at ZyXEL. “ZyXEL is determined to provide its customers and communications partners with advance access to all the tools and support necessary to make this transition as seamless as possible.”
ZyXEL started developing its IPv6 compatible technology in 2003. In 2004, the company obtained its first IPv6 Ready Logo certificate and is now certified across a wider range of product lines—all while adding support for additional IPv6 features. The company also received the IPv6 Ready Logo Phase II certification using VDSL2 technology. These efforts have enabled the company to provide its customers with early access to IPv6-ready products for evaluations, field trials, and deployments as they build their IPv6 networks.
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ZyXEL is working on several initiatives to help its customers with the new protocol, including providing advance availability of test samples for field trials. The company is also actively involved with technology partners on interoperability testing to ensure a smooth transition for service providers. These efforts are aimed at reducing the time and cost of transition for the telecommunications industry. An information repository with white papers, success stories, and how-to manuals is now available at www.us.zyxel.com/ipv6.
To learn about the benefits of being a ZyXEL partner, check out this video.
