Workonline Communications ZACR are partnering with the African Network Information Centre (Afrinic) to hold Afrinic’s IPv6 and Internet Number Resource Management (INRM) Courses in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 2 to 5 May.
Afrinic offers a comprehensive training programme and provides free training throughout Africa in both French and English to around 600 African network engineers every year, equipping network engineers and operators with key knowledge about IPv6 deployment and transition techniques.
IP (Internet Protocol) addresses denote individual devices connected to the Internet and the IPv6 128-bit addressing system significantly expands the number of IP addresses available for devices from smartphones to gaming consoles.
It’s been estimated that 85% of available IP addresses have already been allocated to web-connected devices.
There is a clear need for South African organisations and service providers to begin preparing for the shift towards Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) or risk facing significant operational and technical headaches.
South Africa has an Internet penetration rate of about 52%, making it one of Africa’s leaders in Internet availability.
Afrinic has 372 South African members – 25% of the total – and is the country with the most members. While 173 members hold an IPv6 allocation and are therefore able to deploy IPv6 on their networks, very few have actually done so.
By providing free training, Afrinic hopes to further reinforce the message that South Africa’s IPv6 deployment cannot wait.
“Afrinic’s training courses are highly respected, with the majority of participants agreeing that they would recommend the course to others,” comments Afrinic CEO Alan Barrett. “In addition to our core function as one of the world’s five Regional Internet Registries (RIR), Afrinic plays a leading role in education and capacity building, as well as supporting Internet infrastructure development throughout the region.
“Delivering the Afrinic training courses in South Africa with the support of Workonline Communications and ZACR is further reinforcing our commitment to building a stable, secure and accessible Internet for Africa.”
