Worldwide test of next generation internet addresses under way

A WORLDWIDE test was under way yesterday of the next generation of internet addresses designed to replace the dwindling pool of 4.3 billion unique identifiers in the original system.

Hundreds of companies, organisations and institutions around the world are taking part in World IPv6 Day, including internet giants such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo.

Internet Protocol version 6 is the new system of unique identifying numbers for websites, computers and other internet-connected gadgets and is replacing the original addressing system, IPv4, which is nearing exhaustion.