Spark not planning to deploy native IPv6 at all. Ever.

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Spark not planning to deploy native IPv6 at all. Ever.

Erayd

40 posts

Geek

#206037 7-Dec-2016 15:24

I have been asking Spark about the state of IPv6 deployment on their network for years (and the answer is always "sometime soon, no ETA"), however today they responded with this gem from tier 2 complex support:

To be honest with you, there is no timeframe for the IPV6 launch.

As to its launch, Spark would only adopt it if it were deemed absolutely necessary.

At this time, we have no residential or business customers who require the IPV6 specification, and thus there’s no hurry for Spark to deploy something that would cost a lot of time and resources for something that isn't required.

This kind of attitude from an ISP really annoys me. IPv6 is one of those things that obviously won't be used until it's available, and until it's available, it can't be used and people will work around its lack.

Spark - sort it out please. It's almost 2017; in my opinion this kind of attitude towards core infrastructure is unacceptable, particularly when you've been promising me for years that it's coming.

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Talkiet

4792 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1684123 7-Dec-2016 17:55

hio77:

If your lucky @Talkiet may have a Statement ... [snip]

Noticed a tag in here for me... thanks :-)

You're right. OP is twisting the words or the rep spoke completely out of turn - or possibly out of frustration with the caller.

IPv6 "will come at some stage" for sure, and it's already deployed in parts of our network for testing - NOT on any residential BB customer lines though - so don't anyone get your hopes up for a trialists position any time soon!

I will say there are more urgent developments that will have more immediate and bigger impacts on customers than deploying IPv6 and while it's getting some love in the background it's not our top priority.

As mentioned above, the great thing about the number of RSPs in the NZ market is that there are many that have launched IPv6, with varying levels of success - so if anyone has an actual need for IPv6 today, they have options. Don't get me wrong - we'd love your business Erayd, but if it's that crucial to you then don't rely on us having it on residential BB in the next few months.

You're also being naive in thinking the lack of visible progress on IPv6 reflects our attitude to core infrastructure - that's a frustrated emotional statement and it doesn't reflect the reality.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Talkiet

4792 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1684139 7-Dec-2016 18:20

Erayd:

[snip]@Talkiet - thanks for your response. It's possible that the rep was speaking out of turn, although given how long this has taken, I'm inclined to believe them.

IPv6 "will come at some stage" for sure, and it's already deployed in parts of our network for testing - NOT on any residential BB customer lines though - so don't anyone get your hopes up for a trialists position any time soon!
Thing is, I've been hearing this for many years. I'm sick of it. The lack of visible progress on this for so long speaks volumes, and in all honesty my conclusion seems reasonable here.

You're also being naive in thinking the lack of visible progress on IPv6 reflects our attitude to core infrastructure - that's a frustrated emotional statement and it doesn't reflect the reality.
IP *is* core infrastructure - it's the underlying transport for essentially all noteworthy internet traffic. Keeping that current is important.

Yes, I fully agree that I am frustrated - but I feel well entitled to be frustrated, noting how long this has taken and how difficult it's been to get any kind of an answer at all from Spark. I do appreciate your response, and have no gripe with your personally, but really not happy with how Spark as a company seems to be approaching this.

A few little points...

1) Whatever you have been hearing for years - you're hearing now from one of the individuals in the group doing the IPv6 work. Your conclusion is wrong.

2) Actually, our core is MPLS

3) It's perfectly reasonable to be frustrated and even a bit annoyed, but if you're going to post things, post facts. Massively coloured (and wrong) interpretations of information you did not get from authoritative sources is not a good start here.

Finally, apart from the fact we're not telling you about our IPv6 progress, you have no idea how we're approaching it.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.