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Coming with a number of enhanced features and functionalities, the next generation of Internet protocol, IPv6, is believed to improve the security of IP traffic and provide more support for real-time communications. With a goal to develop roadmap for telecommunications industry’s smooth transition to IPv6 for SIP applications, services and devices the SIP Forum (News - Alert) has reportedly formed the SIP over IPv6 Task Group (IPv6).

The new task group, comprising of stakeholders from the service provider, application developer and equipment communities, will focus on addressing key deployment and interoperability issues in the telecommunications industry’s migration to SIP over IPv6.

A charter is already in place with the mandate to identify issues with SIP over IPv6. The charter is also mandated to assess the impact of transition technologies and dual stack devices on existing SIP networks.

Following are the focus areas for the newly formed task group:

• Evaluating the current status of SIP over IPv6 based on IETF and other industry standardization.
• Assessing current technologies and strategies for IPv4/IPv6 co-existence and identifying impacts of these technologies on SIP-based networks and the user experience.
• Reviewing the work of technical entities, such as the IPv6 Forum, UCIF, CEA IPv6 Working Group and UPnP, to evaluate progress on IPv6 adoption within the industry and develop necessary formal liaisons to coordinate efforts and avoid duplication.
• Functioning as a resource and advisor for SIP Forum members on matters related to SIP over IPv6 and SIP in Dual IP networks, as well as infrastructure issues, such as stateful/stateless address auto configuration, security and others.
• Identifying areas where existing standards for SIP over IPv6 and dual stack are inadequate or non-existent, such as technical documents, network architectures and standards.
• Providing direction and technical leadership in resolving problems related to SIP when using IPv6 or co-existence technologies.

Co-chairs John Berg of CableLabs and Andrew Hutton of Siemens Enterprise Communications (News - Alert) will lead the group.

Also included in the group are Spencer Dawkins (Technical Working Group Director), Richard Shockey (Chairman of the Board and Managing Director) and Marc Robins (News - Alert) (Managing Director and President). The Task Group will work concurrently with SIP Forum Management.

The task group currently has more than 120 other members from across the industry, with new members joining daily, according to a news statement.

“The SIP Over IPv6 Task Group will play an important role in identifying the challenges facing the telecommunications industry in migrating to SIP over IPv6. This is a complex transition, involving issues critical to the foundation of the future Internet. This new task group is charged with developing the strategy and best course of action to guide the IP communications industry toward the smoothest transition to IPv6,”   SIP Forum Managing Director and President Marc Robins said in a statement.