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Engineer Otunte Otueneh, Nigeria Chapter Officer of the Internet Society warned that the IPv4 Nigeria was using was outdated.
“It is unimaginable when the Version 6 will finish. Now, we need to create awareness to tell Nigerians especially that Version 4 is almost finished and we need to move on to the new version.
“Communication providers and end users have to be aware of this, if not they risk losing connectivity because the version they are using is on brick of extinction,” he said.
He said the original equipment manufacturers were making their equipment or devices to make sure the technologies were IPv6-enabled.
“The end user has to be wise enough that while they are going to buy should request for IPv6-enabled devices. The problem will start when someone with IPV4 approaches an internet service provider that runs on IPv6, there will not be compatibility. At the end the user will lack connection to the internet,” Otueneh said.
Benedict Othello, head of information systems at Phase 3 Telecoms, concurred.
“Users on the IPV4 platform will not be accommodated by the service providers at some point.
“For instance, if telecom operators in Nigeria roll out SIM cards and fail to expand their modules for more subscribers, it will affect their businesses. It is all about upgrading to new version to accommodate more customers,” he said.
He urged the government and service provider to train personnel on IVP6.
“We must train our technical personnel so that when the time comes, we will not lack qualified or competent people to handle that.
“If we do not, we are creating room for expatriates to flood the IT environment which is indirectly creating channels for capital flight,” Othello added. – CAJ News.
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