Kundra, Chopra Lead Efforts on IPv6

Could the Internet run out of space?

It’s not likely, but it’s possible if Internet-service providers don’t upgrade to a newer ‘Net infrastructure, Gautham Nagesh of The Hill reports.

The Obama administration is pushing ISPs to continue the implementation of Internet Protocol Version 6, which can support more web addresses than the current version.

Led by federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra and federal Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra, the campaign to ensure that companies are making progress will make a stop at the National Press Club today for a workshop held by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

In the end, IPv6, or “Next Generation Internet,” will allow for better integration of smartphones and lay continuing groundwork for cloud computing.

Despite such dire-seeming predictions about running out of space, the issue is one that is rarely talked about outside of tech circles and has remained largely unknown.

“The transition to IPv6 won’t affect consumers,” The Hill reports, “but ISPs and developers must upgrade their technologies to be compatible with the new standard.”

And the United States has some catching up to do, falling behind both China and Europe in applying IPv6.

In addition to Kundra and Chopra, also present at the workshop today are Vint Cerf of Google and Jason Livingood of Comcast.