PRBI, Caribe.Net Announces Support for Internet Protocol IPv6

April 11, 2011

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Federally-Funded Project Supporting Transition from IPv4 to IPv6 by Internet Service Providers

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Critical Hub Networks (Caribe.Net) announced today that the Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative is now supporting IPv6, the long-anticipated upgrade to the Internet’s main communications protocol.

In April of last year, Critical Hub was awarded $25.7 million in Recovery Act (ARRA) funds through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for the Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative (PRBI) to bring fast, affordable broadband service to all of Puerto Rico.

“The Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative mission is to bring fast, affordable broadband to all of Puerto Rico. As part of this, we have begun Puerto Rico’s transition from IPv4 to IPv6, to ensure that there are sufficient IP addresses so that all residents of Puerto Rico can access the Internet,” said Carlo Marazzi, President of Critical Hub Networks.

The Internet Protocol (IP) is the language which computers on the Internet use to communicate with each other. The current version of the Internet Protocol, known as IPv4, can only support 4.3 billion devices connected to the Internet. Due to the rapid growth of the Internet, the final IPv4 addresses were given out in February of this year by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). No additional IPv4 addresses are available, which presents a challenge for connecting new broadband users and devices.

To solve this challenge, Internet Service Providers are in the process of upgrading their networks to IPv6. Unlike IPv4, IPv6 can support a nearly endless number of users and devices – roughly 2¹²⁸, or enough for each person on the planet to have 4 billion devices connected each. Some websites including YouTube, Google, Facebook and Yahoo are already supporting IPv6.

“IPv6 is coming, and Puerto Rico is not ready. The PRBI is working with Puerto Rico’s broadband providers to allow them to be able to begin providing IPv6 services to their customers,” continued Marazzi.

Headquartered in El Telegrafo in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Critical Hub Networks, also known as Caribe.Net, is an Internet Service Provider offering disaster recovery, data center & colocation services, and a full suite of retail, corporate and wholesale Internet services. Additional information about Critical Hub Networks can be obtained by e-mail at webmaster@caribe.net, by accessing the web site at www.caribe.net, the Puerto Rico Bridge Initiative website at www.prbridgeinitiative.org or by calling (787) 728-9000.