n an initiative aimed at equipping the core IT infrastructure in the State to handle faster and more efficient delivery of service, the Kerala State IT Mission (KSITM) has taken the first step for the transition to the next generation Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6).
Consultancy tenders have been invited for the roll-out of IPv6 across the State. The IPv6 migration in the initial phase involves transition of State Data Centres, e-governance applications, portals and website services hosted in SDC and Kerala State Wide Area Network (KSWAN) up to the block headquarters level. The remaining government offices up to the panchayat level will be covered in the next phase and integrated with the existing national networks and infrastructure like the National Knowledge Network, National Data Centre for Disaster Recovery and National Optical Fibre Network.
The Internet Protocol (IP) is basically a communications protocol used for relaying packets of data across a network. The current generation of the Internet runs mostly on the IPv4 protocol which is limited by its 32-bit addressing space.
“As a forerunner in establishing core IT infrastructure, it is expedient for Kerala to deploy and configure the next generation IPv6 services,” says Josius Benny, IPv6 project manager, KSITM. “Besides providing faster Internet service, it will ensure better security and enable the State to conform to international standards. It also synchronises with Kerala’s drive to become a digital State.” The consultancy will be required to prepare a detailed project report, indentify the gap infrastructure and come up with a procurement plan and prototype for deployment of IPv6. Some of the application software and firmware may need upgrade or replacement for migration to the newer version.
