APNIC calls for action after the most recent allocation to the fast-growing Asia Pacific region has reduced the global pool of unallocated IPv4 addresses to below 5% remaining.

There are now 12 /8 address blocks remaining in the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) free pool of IPv4 addresses. 

The 5% milestone in IPv4 exhaustion again highlights the need to deploy the next protocol, IPv6.

During the past two years, major global ICT enterprises, such as Google, YouTube, and Microsoft made the necessary investments to ensure their products and services are IPv6-enabled.

Governments in the Asia Pacific region have also awakened to the need for IPv6 deployment with many now working to layout IPv6 roadmaps.  The latest to announce significant planning was the Indian Government, which has called for a 2012 deadline on IPv6 deployment.

As the Asia Pacific community nears that point in time when the final /8 is distributed, it is necessary for business leaders in the region to begin IPv6 deployment if they have not already.

APNIC projections for growth in new IPv6 allocations during 2010 now show an increase of at least 300% over 2009 allocations. These projections are fuelled by the strong response to the APNIC 'Kickstart IPv6' program, which allows many organizations to easily obtain IPv6 allocations.